Conn. Rep. Larson undergoes heart surgery

HARTFORD, Conn. — U.S. Rep. John Larson underwent elective heart valve replacement surgery Tuesday for a condition his doctor says the congressman has known about for at least two years.

Larson, 61, the fourth highest-ranking Democrat in the House, was resting comfortably after a successful procedure and is expected to make a full recovery, said Barry Feldman, a personal spokesman for the congressman.

Larson suffered from a congenital defect to an aortic valve which caused aortic stenosis, the narrowing of that valve.

The problem was diagnosed “two or three years ago” after a routine physical found a heart murmur, said Dr. Daniel Diver, Larson’s cardiologist.

Without surgery, the valve would eventually have become clogged, stopping the flow of blood, he said.

“The congressman was in perfect health,” Dr. Diver said. “In the modern era, we take this step prior to it causing any problems with the heart muscle or cardiac function, as we did here.”

The surgery was performed by Dr. William Martinez, a cardiac surgeon, in just under 2 1/2 hours, Diver said.

Larson, who is in his sixth term in the House, serves as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, a position he took over last November when Rep. Rahm Emanuel became President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

Larson decided to have the surgery about a month ago, but decided to keep the news from the media before surgery to preserve his privacy, Feldman said.

Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said she didn’t see anything wrong with Larson waiting to announce his heart condition until after Tuesday’s surgery.

“People have medical problems all the time,” she said. “Until there’s a decision on what to do about it, even people involved in public life have the right to make a decision on what they’re going to do before they begin to comment on it.”

DiNardo added, “I’m certainly happy everything was successful and I’m sure the congressman will be back working as soon as he can.”

Larson is expected to be released from the hospital in four or five days and plans to be back on the job in September when Congress reconvenes.

Feldman said Larson was confident having the surgery at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, despite recent problems with the hospital’s cardiac program.

The hospital voluntarily suspended elective heart procedures for a week last month while the state Department of Public Health investigated the maintenance records of heart and lung machines in the operating room.

The health department has not said what led to the investigation.

“All of the questions that the congressman may have had (about the program) were satisfactorily answered, said Feldman.

Saint Francis performs about 1,000 open heart surgeries a year, including about 300 valve replacements, said Diver, who is the hospital’s chief of cardiology.

The mortality rate is in the low, “single-digit range,” Diver said, especially for someone as “vigorous and healthy” as Larson.

The news of Larson’s health issue comes just days after U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., announced that he had prostate cancer and would have surgery this month.

State Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy said the health problems of both Larson and Dodd point out flaws in the Democrats’ plan for a national health care system.

“Both of these gentlemen have great health care and can elect to have surgery at their convenience,” Healey said. “Under a public plan, which both of them want to push, the general public won’t have those same options.”

Dodd’s office has said he’s pushing for national health care reform so that all Americans can have the same access to quality care that he enjoys.