Schwarzenegger In Stable Condition After Open-Heart Surgery

A spokesman for former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the actor’s first words upon waking up from open-heart surgery were, “I’m back.”

Schwarzenegger is in stable condition after undergoing a procedure to replace a heart valve yesterday in Los Angeles, according to the spokesman, Daniel Ketchell.

Originally reported by some media outlets as “emergency surgery,” Ketchell said the procedure was scheduled. Schwarzenegger had made the appointment to replace a pulmonary valve, which was originally installed in 1997 for a congenital heart defect. The valve had surpassed its life expectancy.

Doctors first attempted a less invasive method, but were prepared to perform open-heart surgery as an alternative, when the initial procedure was unsuccessful.

Pulmonary valves are commonly replaced using both methods.