Regis Philbin to Undergo Triple Bypass Surgery

Regis Philbin announced Monday on his morning show, Live with Regis and Kelly, that he will undergo triple bypass surgery later this week. A series of medical tests prompted physicians to recommend the surgery for the TV personality. Philbin, 75, underwent angioplasty on both his left and right arteries in 1993, prompting him to speak out on heart health for the America Heart Association. On Monday, he told viewers that he began experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains last week while taping his show in Los Angeles.

Coronary bypass surgery, a literal life-saver for many patients, utilizes healthy arteries harvested from other parts of the body to bypass blockage. One end of the healthy artery is grafted onto the coronary arteries below the blockage, and the other end is attached to the aorta, allowing blood to flow through the new channel to the heart. The patient recovers in an intensive care unit for about a day before being transferred to the cardiac surgery ward, where the patient will spend about four days before going home. A full recovery from coronary bypass surgery may take a month or more, though most people with sedentary jobs may return to work in about four to six weeks. The surgery carries minimal risk for patients with no prior history of heart attacks or angina, though the risk is slightly higher for those with a history of cardiac problems.

Philbin is an accomplished television host, author, and singer. He has been a fixture on national television since the early 1980's, and has hosted a variety of television programs, including talk shows, and game shows, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, one of his most notable and successful game shows. He appeared on Late Show with David Letterman after Letterman himself had heart surgery.

A number of guest hosts will fill in for Philbin during his absence. A number of public figures have suffered heart problems in the past, including David Letterman, Larry King, Bill Clinton, and Dick Cheney.

Sources:
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regis_Philbin

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4484