Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent surgery Friday to repair a partially blocked artery in his neck, which was discovered during routine examination of a decades-old back injury.
The hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery — a major supplier of blood to the neck and head — was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital by Dr. Richard Cambria, the hospital’s chief of vascular surgery. The Massachusetts Democrat suffered no complications and the senator was expected to be released in several days, Kennedy’s office said
“As part of a routine evaluation of Senator Kennedy’s back and spine, MRI studies picked up an unrelated, asymptomatic blockage in the senator’s left carotid artery,” said a statement from Kennedy’s Washington office. “This morning, Senator Kennedy underwent preventive surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the blockage.”
Cleveland Clinic on symptoms of a blockage:
slurring of speech, difficulty talking or understanding what others are saying
loss of coordination, dizziness or confusion
Sounds like normal Ted.
