Arnie, 70, ‘stable’ after emergency open heart surgery
ARNOLD Schwarzenegger was recovering in hospital last night after undergoing emergency heart surgery.
The 70-year-old had experienced difficulties during routine key-hole surgery for a heart valve replacement.
Additional surgeons who were on standby then made the quick decision to carry out emergency open heart surgery.
The operation at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles lasted several hours and Mr Schwarzenegger was last night said to be in a stable condition.
The news sparked an outpouring of support from fans of the former bodybuilder, actor and ex-California governor, famous for his roles in the Terminator films.
His family has a history of heart problems and he received cardiac check-ups during his annual physical.
In 1997, when he was 49, he underwent surgery to replace his pulmonary valve. Surgeons had to repeat the operation a second time before it was a success.
‘That 1997 replacement valve was never meant to be permanent, so he chose to replace it through a less-invasive catheter valve replacement,’ his spokesman Daniel Ketchell said.
‘During that procedure, an open heart surgery team was prepared, as they frequently are in these circumstances, in case the catheter procedure was unable to be performed.
‘Governor Schwarzenegger’s pulmonic valve was successfully replaced and he is currently recovering from the surgery and is in a stable condition.’
He is set to appear in a new Terminator film alongside Linda Hamilton, who was in the original with him, but production could be delayed while he recovers.
He showed no signs that he was in ill health recently and appeared on CNN last week to talk about the Republican party under Donald Trump.
The Austrian-born star was also seen at an amateur bodybuilding competition in Melbourne, Australia, this month, where he seemed relaxed.
He said that age is just a number to him and he felt great.
‘I don’t even think that I’m 70, I know I’m 70, but so what?’ he said.
‘It’s only on my passport or my driver’s licence, but I feel the same way as I did 20 years ago. I feel good about myself. I work out. I make my movies. Life is great. I feel useful and productive.’