Published November 17, 2014
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's brand-new vice president underwent heart bypass surgery Monday after he was rushed to the hospital with severe chest pains just two days into his term.
Angelino Garzon was admitted to the Shaio clinic in northern Bogota in the morning, the hospital director, Dr. Carlos Alberto Cardona, said in a statement read to reporters. Tests revealed "heart disease in multiple vessels."
By midafternoon the surgery was complete and Garzon was recovering in stable condition at an intensive care unit, Cardona said.
Doctors said a more complete prognosis would gradually become known in the next 48 hours.
For now, Garzon's vital signs are "quite encouraging," said Dr. Hernando Santos Calderon, a surgeon who participated in the operation. But, he added, "we cannot say more because we have to await developments."
Garzon, 63, is a former state governor, journalist and union leader who was sworn in Saturday alongside President Juan Manuel Santos.
In a statement, the president said he was closely following news of Garzon's health and planned a visit to the hospital.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/colombian-vp-garzon-hospitalized-for-heart-surgery-just-2-days-after-his-inauguration