Clinton recovering after heart surgery to correct previous complications

NEW YORK -- Surgeons successfully removed fluid and scar tissue from Bill Clinton's chest cavity Thursday, cleaning up minor complications from the former president's heart bypass operation of six months ago.\nClinton was "awake and resting comfortably" after four hours of surgery, said Herbert Pardes, president of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. His wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and daughter Chelsea were with him and said to be pleased with the outcome.\nThe surgery began at 7 a.m., about two hours after Clinton arrived in an SUV at the Manhattan hospital on a brisk winter morning.\nClinton, 58, told doctors he was looking forward to getting on with his recovery. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery, which could take anywhere from three to 10 days.\nClinton underwent heart bypass surgery in September because of clogged arteries. Doctors described Thursday's operation as a low-risk procedure to relieve a complication that crops up in only a fraction of 1 percent of bypass patients.\nThe scar tissue was pressing down on Clinton's left lung, causing discomfort and reduced lung capacity. Dr. Joshua Sonett, one of Clinton's surgeons, said at a news conference that the combination of fluid and scar tissue had decreased Clinton's lung capacity by 25 percent before the operation.\nThe operation typically is done either through a small incision or with a video-assisted scope inserted between the ribs. The patient is given general anesthesia.\nThe Secret Service, police and hospital security staff conducted a sweep of the walkways and corridors as Clinton was whisked inside through a side entrance before the operation. He arrived in an SUV that pulled inside a hospital gate, providing quick access inside.\nThe former president had been in Florida on Wednesday at a charity golf tournament to benefit tsunami victims. He appeared relaxed, cracking jokes about his golf game and saying he wasn't worried about the surgery.\nMore than 1,000 people sent the 42nd president good wishes through his Web site.\nAcross the street from the hospital, good wishes and prayers for Clinton were offered at a restaurant named El Presidente. "I pray to God that he is well, that he comes out healthy," said manager Wilton Rafael Marte Fermin.\nThe Clintons asked well-wishers to make donations to the American Heart Association, which set up a special location for such contributions on its web site.\nSince his heart surgery, Clinton has presided over the opening of his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and joined former President Bush for a public relations campaign to help raise money for the Asian tsunami victims.