Sen. Durbin undergoes outpatient heart procedure

Posted on May 2, 2017
Dick Durbin sits between a statue of Abraham Lincoln and Bloomington mayor Tari Renner during his visit to the county muesum. (Photo by Patrick Baron/WJBC)

 

By Howard Packowitz

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois underwent an outpatient procedure in Chicago Tuesday for what his office said was a “common abnormal heart rhythm.” A statement from Durbin’s office said the Democratic Whip is doing well, but he will remain in Illinois the rest of the week.

The condition, known as an atrial flutter, was discovered when Durbin had his recent annual physical. The news release said Durbin had no symptoms and maintained his schedule before and after the diagnosis.

Durbin’s office said the procedure, called a catheter ablation, was performed at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A catheter is used to emit a pulse of painfree radiofrequency energy which destroys the abnormal heart tissue and corrects the irregular heartbeat, the news release said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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