Kevin Rudd’s Heart Operation ‘a Success’
August 1, 2011 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
BRISBANE, Australia, Aug. 1 (UPI) — Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was recovering in a Brisbane hospital Monday after undergoing heart surgery, his wife, Therese Rein, said.
Rein called the operation to replace Rudd’s aortic valve “a success,” the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
The aortic valve replacement was the second heart operation for Rudd, 53.
Cardiologist Malcolm Davison said the 4-hour operation went as anticipated and he expected Rudd would be walking Tuesday. Davison said Rudd’s new heart valve is from a cow and should last between 15 and 20 years.
Rein said Rudd’s recovery should take about two months and will require him to break from his ministerial duties.
“Our present challenge is not really that he won’t recover with more energy than he’s had before, but rather my challenge is to keep him as still as possible for as long as possible and for about eight weeks,” she said.
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