Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Headed Home After Open Heart Surgery
He’s back!
Arnold Schwarzenegger is on his way home after undergoing open-heart surgery, his representative Daniel Ketchell confirmed on Twitter Friday.
Update: @Schwarzenegger is headed home! https://t.co/QWeG8C82M7
— Daniel Ketchell (@ketch) April 6, 2018
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The actor, 70, took to social media himself for the first time on Monday after it was revealed he had an emergency operation following complications that arose during a planned heart valve replacement.
“It’s true: I’m back! I went to sleep expecting to wake up with a small incision and woke up with a big one,” he tweeted. “But guess what? I woke up, and that’s something to be thankful for.”
Schwarzenegger thanked his team of doctors and nurses, and expressed “gratitude” for his fans.
It’s true: I’m back! I went to sleep expecting to wake up with a small incision and woke up with a big one – but guess what? I woke up, and that’s something to be thankful for. Thank you to the doctors & nurses. And I’m truly filled with gratitude for all of the kind messages.
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) April 2, 2018
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“Thank you to the doctors & nurses,” he continued. “And I’m truly filled with gratitude for all of the kind messages.”
Last Friday, Schwarzenegger’s representative Daniel Ketchell said the actor was in “good spirits” following the surgery.
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In a statement, Ketchell said, “Yesterday, Governor Schwarzenegger underwent a planned procedure at Cedars-Sinai to replace a pulmonic valve that was originally replaced due to a congenital heart defect in 1997.”
The replacement the actor underwent nearly 20 years ago was “never meant to be permanent,” so Schwarzenegger “chose to replace” it on Thursday “through a less-invasive catheter valve replacement,” Ketchell added.
An open-heart surgery team was standing by in case of complications, which is common during these types of procedures, according to Ketchell. When complications arose during the procedure, the doctors on standby were able to successfully step in and perform open-heart surgery, the actor’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE.
“Governor Schwarzeneggers’ pulmonic valve was successfully replaced and he is currently recovering from the surgery and is in stable condition,” Ketchell added, before thanking the “entire medical team for their tireless efforts.”