Palestinian leader Abbas leaves hospital
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-02 16:38

A beaming Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas left an Amman hospital Thursday, saying he felt "just fine" hours after undergoing successful heart surgery.

"Things are just fine and I'm in very good health," the 69-year-old Abbas told reporters, smiling as he left the hospital dressed in an elegant black suit.

"What I had yesterday was a routine examination," he said.

Two Jordanian doctors who examined the Palestinian leader said Thursday that Abbas underwent a coronary angiogram, also known as catheterization — a common procedure to ensure that the arteries are not clogged.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen waves after a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, May 23, 2005. Abbas underwent a heart procedure to open clogged arteries Wednesday June 1, 2005 at a hospital in Jordan, a senior Palestinian official said. [AP]

Dr. Abdullah al-Bashir, who routinely examines Abbas and attended Wednesday's procedure, said a stenting procedure that Abbas had a few years ago was also examined. Stenting are tiny mesh tubes threaded into arteries to keep the blood flowing smoothly.

Abbas aide Tayeb Abdel Rahim said Wednesday the Palestinian leader underwent angioplasty. But Bashir and the other doctor insisted it was not. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

"It was a routine catheterization to make sure the arteries are not clogged," al-Bashir said.

Cardiac catheterization allows a specialist to see an outline of the coronary arteries and determine the extent of blockages in these vessels.

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