NEW YORK, March 10 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton underwent surgery at a New York hospital Thursday to remove scar tissue and fluid from his chest.
Dr. Herbert Pardes, president of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, said the surgery was successful and Clinton was awake and resting comfortably with Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton and their daughter, Chelsey, at his side.
Dr. Joshua Sonett told a news conference the surgery began at 7 a.m. and lasted four hours. He said Clinton, 58, was optimistic going into the procedure.
"President Clinton's lung was healthy and looked excellent," Sonett said. He said fluid had reduced the capacity of his left lung by 25 percent.
The scarred, thickened membrane around the lung had diminished Clinton's breathing capacity, said Craig Smith, the surgeon who performed his bypass operation. Clinton walks about four miles a day as part of a rehabilitation program and first noticed his symptoms while going up hills, the Washington Post reported.
The former president could be hospitalized for as long as 10 days although his stay is likely to be much shorter, his doctors said.
Before checking into the hospital Thursday, Clinton played a round of golf Wednesday with former President George H.W. Bush.
