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Clinton Surgery "Safe"

by Fred Mogul

NEW YORK, NY March 09, 2005 — Columbia University Medical Center once again will be the site of a presidential surgery. Tomorrow, Bill Clinton returns to the hospital where he underwent quadruple-bypass last September. Surgeon Joshua Sonnett says the removal of scar tissue and fluid around Mr. Clinton's heart is a safe procedure with very little chance of complications. SONNETT: It's unlikely. He should have full functional recovery with no limitations of his pulmonary status. Doctors say the condition reduced his lung capacity by about 25 percent - even though Mr. Clinton has been active and healthy. The operation should take one to three hours. Although the majority of bypass patients have some fluid accumulations, this particular condition is very rare. It's not considered dangerous. Clinton received a clean bill of health shortly before recent travels to Asian countries affected by the tsunami. He is expected to remain hospitalized for three to 10 days and recover fully within a month.

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