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Clinton in hospital

February 11, 2010

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is in a New York hospital after he experienced chest discomfort. Clinton's cardiologist said the former president's prognosis is "excellent" and that he had no damage to his heart.

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Bill Clinton
Clinton underwent successful quadruple bypass surgery in 2004Image: AP

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has been admitted to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City after experiencing chest discomfort.

Doctors inserted two stents into Clinton's coronary arteries, and the procedure went "very smoothly," according to Clinton's cardiologist Dr. Allan Schwartz.

"His prognosis is excellent," Schwartz said, adding that Clinton "did not have a heart attack or any damage to his heart."

A statement released by Clinton aide Douglas Band also gave an optimistic viewpoint.

"President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts," the statement said.

History of heart disease

Clinton in Haiti
Clinton is the special UN envoy to HaitiImage: AP

Stents are tiny mesh scaffolds that prop open arteries after they are unclogged through angioplasty.

Clinton underwent a successful quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 to unblock four clogged arteries. Placing stents in arteries is a relatively quick and common procedure for patients like Clinton who have a history of heart disease.

Clinton's daughter Chelsea was reportedly at the hospital with her father, along with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who rushed from Washington to New York to be with her husband.

The U.S. State Department said Mrs. Clinton planned to delay her scheduled trip to the Persian Gulf by one day, until Saturday.

acb/dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters
Editor: Nigel Tandy