Former Canadian PM still recovering after heart surgery
{{date|October 4, 2007}}
[[Image:JeanChrétien.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Former Canadian Prime Minister [[w:Jean Chrétien|Jean Chrétien]]. Photo taken in June 2000.]]

[[Jean Chrétien]], one of [[Canada]]'s former prime ministers, received [[w:quadruple heart bypass surgery|quadruple heart bypass surgery]] yesterday at [[w:Montreal Heart Institute|Montreal's Heart Institute]].

"I just talked to him a few minutes ago. He's well and he's recuperating very well at the moment. His outcome is excellent," said Chief of surgery, Dr. Michel Pellerin.

He could have risked his life as he was diagnosed with [[w:angina|unstable angina]]. It is caused by obstructed [[w:arteries|arteries]], which causes [[w:heart pain|heart pain]] in a person's body.

Pellerin performed the surgery on Chrétien, 73, early Wednesday morning. It took 73-minutes to 90-minutes.

However, hospital doctors say Chrétien is expected to stay in the hospital for up to seven days, and it could take up to three months for a full recovery.

Chrétien was at the recent ''[[w:Presidents Cup|Presidents Cup]]'' at the [[w:Royal Montreal Golf Club|Royal Montreal Golf Club]], when he asked another golfer with whom he was golfing with at the time, luckily a cardiologist, for help.

The golfer told him to see a doctor as soon as possible.

"He was very lucky. He had a bit of discomfort and mentioned it because there was a doctor there," said a friend of Chrétien, Eddie Goldenberg. "The doctor asked him a couple of questions and said, 'You better come and see me.' "

Chrétien's mother, who had heart disease, means that it could have been a genetic link, doctors say.

He had to postpone his speech at the [[w:Asia-Pacific mining conference|Asia-Pacific mining conference]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia|B.C.]].

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/03/chretien-surgery.html?ref=rss
|title=Chretien 'very well' after quadruple bypass
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=October 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=24aa0ded-510b-4a1c-9d2b-f6484c8043d0&k=61633
|title=Chretien on the mend, doctors say
|author=
|pub=Montreal Gazette
|date=October 4, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archive-sighted}}

[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Jean Chrétien]]
Jean Chrétien. Photo taken in June 2000.

Jean Chrétien, one of Canada's former prime ministers, received quadruple heart bypass surgery yesterday at Montreal's Heart Institute.

"I just talked to him a few minutes ago. He's well and he's recuperating very well at the moment. His outcome is excellent," said Chief of surgery, Dr. Michel Pellerin.

He could have risked his life as he was diagnosed with unstable angina. It is caused by obstructed arteries, which causes heart pain in a person's body.

Pellerin performed the surgery on Chrétien, 73, early Wednesday morning. It took 73-minutes to 90-minutes.

However, hospital doctors say Chrétien is expected to stay in the hospital for up to seven days, and it could take up to three months for a full recovery.

Chrétien was at the recent Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, when he asked another golfer with whom he was golfing with at the time, luckily a cardiologist, for help.

The golfer told him to see a doctor as soon as possible.

"He was very lucky. He had a bit of discomfort and mentioned it because there was a doctor there," said a friend of Chrétien, Eddie Goldenberg. "The doctor asked him a couple of questions and said, 'You better come and see me.' "

Chrétien's mother, who had heart disease, means that it could have been a genetic link, doctors say.

He had to postpone his speech at the Asia-Pacific mining conference in Vancouver, B.C..
North America Canada Health Politics and conflicts Jean Chrétien