barbara bush heart surgery

Barbara Bush, the former U.S. first lady, underwent a succesful heart operation today and is recovering at Houston's Methodist Hospital, Fox Houston reported on its Web site, citing Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath.

The surgery at The Methodist Hospital lasted about 2 1/2 hours and was scheduled last week after Bush, 83, experienced a shortness of breath, family spokesman Jim McGrath said.

The procedure was scheduled last week after Bush, 83, the wife of former President George H.W. Bush, experienced shortness of breath and doctors detected a hardened valve in her heart, the hospital said.

She also underwent surgery in late November for a perforated ulcer and was released from the hospital on December 2.

Doctors observed that Bush's aortic valve had begun to harden and the procedure was scheduled after Bush had shortness of breath, Fox Houston said.

The hospital said she was "awake and alert as she recovers" in the intensive care unit. Her surgeon, Gerald Lawrie, added: "I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities." She is expected to remain hospitalized for up to 10 days.

If left untreated, a hardened aortic valve can result in heart failure or sudden cardiac death, according to the hospital. Symptoms of aortic valve disease include shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness.

Dr. Gerald Lawrie, a heart surgeon at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, replaced the valve with a biologic valve, which is made of natural living tissue, the hospital said in a statement. Lawrie said the surgery went "extremely well."

"I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities," Lawrie said.

When left untreated, a hardened aortic valve can result in heart failure or sudden cardiac death, the hospital said. The valve, on the left side of the heart, can harden with age and become less effective. Symptoms of aortic valve disease include shortness of breath, chest pains and dizziness.

Former President George H.W. Bush was at the hospital with his wife, who McGrath said was resting comfortably in the intensive care unit. The hospital said the former first lady was expected to be released in seven to 10 days.

"I am very impressed with and grateful to the wonderful team of doctors and nurses at The Methodist Hospital who have helped Barbara," the former president said. "We have every confidence she is in the best hands."

McGrath said Bush was already up and talking Wednesday night.

The hospital said surgeries such as Mrs. Bush's typically can take four hours.

Houston television station KRTK reported that Bush almost didn't want her children to know about the surgery because she didn't think it was a big deal. She is the mother of former President George W. Bush and former Florida governor Jeb Bush. The other Bush children are sons Neil and Marvin and daughter Dorothy.

Barbara Bush underwent surgery in November for a perforated ulcer. The hospital said the two were unrelated.

The former Barbara Pierce, daughter of the publisher of McCall's magazine, married George H.W. Bush in 1945 when he returned a hero from World War II.

They had their first child, George, while still at Yale in 1946. A daughter, Robin, died in 1953 of leukemia a few weeks before her 4th birthday.

Barbara Bush disclosed she was suffering from an overactive thyroid ailment known as Graves' disease when she lived at the White House. The disease causes teary eyes and double vision, according to her doctors.