Archbishop Niederauer has double-bypass heart surgery

Intermountain Catholic

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Archbishop George H. Niederauer

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco was "doing well" in the intensive care unit at Long Beach Memorial Hospital Aug. 29 after undergoing successful cardiac double-bypass surgery, the archdiocese reported.

The 75-year-old archbishop was taken to the hospital's emergency room Aug. 28 by Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and former archbishop of San Francisco, after experiencing "some chest discomfort" during the weekend.

The two had been "in the final days of their vacation in Southern California," the archdiocese said.

Archbishop Niederauer was given an angiogram at the hospital Aug. 28 and his doctors recommended he remain at the hospital overnight for observation. In the morning, "at the recommendation of his cardiologists," the archbishop underwent heart surgery.