User:MVOO/Health of Dick Cheney

The Health of Richard Cheney is about the health of Dick Cheney, former Vice President of the United States. Cheney was born on January 30, 1941. He was the 46th Vice President.

Health
Cheney has a long history of cardiovascular disease. The question of fitness to work in public office has been raised. Cheney suffered his first heart attacks in 1978, at age 37. Subsequent attacks in 1984, 1988, 2000, and 2010 have resulted in moderate contractile dysfunction of his left ventricle. He underwent four-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting in 1988, coronary artery stenting in November 2000, urgent coronary balloon angioplasty in March 2001, and the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in June, 2001.

Cheney was treated for deep-vein thrombosis in his left leg at George Washington University Hospital after experiencing pain in his left calf. Doctors prescribed blood-thinning medication and allowed him to return to work. This happened on March 5, 2007. On the morning of November 26, 2007, Cheney was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and underwent treatment that afternoon. On October 15, 2008, Cheney returned to the hospital briefly to treat an abnormal heart rate/irregularity.

Cheney strained his back "while moving boxes into his new house". As a consequence, he was in a wheelchair for two days, including his attendance at the 2009 United States presidential inauguration the next day (January 20, 2009).

On February 17, 2009, Cheney had back surgery for spinal stenosis. This was done by Anthony Caputy, M.D., a neurosurgeon. He had another back surgery for spinal stenosis on September 17, 2009.

Heart attack history
In short ,

heart attack #1 - 1978

heart attack #2 - 1984

heart attack #3 - 1988 leading to coronary bypass surgery

heart attack #4 - 2000 leading to coronary stents

unstable angina - 2001 leading to angioplasty

defibrillator - 2001

Congestive heart failure - 2006

heart attack #5 - 2010

Cheney suffered his first heart attack in 1978. In 1984, he suffered his second heart attack. In 1988, Cheney suffered his third heat attack. In August of that year he got a 4 essel CABG. On November 22, 2000, he suffered a fourth heart attack and underwent angioplasty. He started to exercise and watch his diet.

On March 5, 2001, Cheney had a stent placed after having chest pain. On June 29, 2001, he disclosed that he had an irregular heart rhythm and was going to the hospital the next day.

On September 24, 2005, Cheney underwent a six-hour endo-vascular procedure to repair popliteal artery aneurysms bilaterally, a catheter treatment technique used in the artery behind each knee. The condition was discovered at a regular physical in July, and was not life-threatening. Cheney was hospitalized for tests after experiencing shortness of breath five months later. In late April 2006, an ultrasound revealed that the clot was smaller.

On February 22, 2010, Cheney suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. On June 25, 2010, Cheney was admitted to George Washington University Hospital after reporting discomfort.

On July 14, 2010, it was reported that Cheney got a new Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). The surgery was done at Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular Institute in Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The device is used as a temporary device for patients awaiting heart transplant can has been proposed as a permanent device. The Associated Press reported that "The typical life expectancy of the recipient depends on whether the device is to be temporary and the person goes on to receive a heart transplant, or if the device is intended for permanent therapy. Recent studies suggest that 63 percent of patients who receive a permanent LVAD can survive two years, Najjar said. Those awaiting a heart transplant tend to have a slightly higher survival." Najjar is the medical director of the Heart Transplant and LVAD Center at Washington Hospital Center. It was not revealed whether Cheney's LVAD is permanent or for a future heart transplant. Cheney said that "entering a new phase of the disease when I began to experience increasing congestive heart failure."

Additional information to be added
Details of his bypass surgery, including number of vessels, surgeon who did it, other details.

Details of each of his heart attacks

Details of his catheter surgery in 2005.

Add details and the several articles that mention that Dick Cheney no longer has a pulse because of that pump.

Cheney has end stage heart disease

Unusual nature of Cheney's condition.

NPR has an article about how Cheney's chest pain isn't entirely due to blockage.

Back problems
Cheney strained his back "while moving boxes into his new house". As a consequence, he was in a wheelchair for two days, including his attendance at the 2009 United States presidential inauguration the next day (January 20, 2009).

On February 17, 2009, Cheney had back surgery for spinal stenosis. This was done by Anthony Caputy, M.D., a neurosurgeon who is chairman of the department at George Washington University Medical Center. He had another back surgery for spinal stenosis on September 17, 2009. Before the second surgery, the Cheney spokeswoman said the surgery was to deal with lumbar spinal stenosis. This condition is a narrowing of the spinal canal which causes pressure on nerves, causing pain. The canal is widened duing surgery by removing some vertebra which eases the pressure on the nerves. The surgery was considered risky, but necessary.

Information to be added
Further details of his back problems and the need for the second surgery so soon afterwards.

Gout and other problems
Cheney has gout. This is a possible result of his congestive heart failure.

Cheney has high cholesterol levels.

Cheney's health discussed and joked in the entertainment industry
Cheney's health problems have been a butt of jokes, including those by Leno, Maher, Behar.

Additional information to be added
There are many articles about this.

Article about 21 Cheney jokes by Letterman in 2 nights and 20 by Leno. This is very notable because there is a NBC article about the problem with Cheney jokes.