Boozman in Intensive Care Following Surgery for Aortic Aneurysm (UPDATE)

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) remains in the specialized cardiovascular intensive care unit at a Rogers hospital, recovering from emergency surgery brought on by an aortic aneurysm, a source told the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

Boozman, 63, was taken to the Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas emergency room by ambulance after midnight and later underwent a heart procedure.

The surgery lasted several hours, according to Boozman spokesman Patrick Creamer, who did not offer any further details on the kind of surgery or what prompted it.

“I can only offer [details] family has provided,” he said. “As they can provide more details, we will update.”

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, an aneurysm is a bulge or “ballooning” in the wall of an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body

The Mercy heart team, led by cardiovascular surgeon Dr. E.J. Chauvin, responded around 2 a.m. this morning and was in surgery until mid-morning.

“After running several tests doctors admitted Boozman and performed heart surgery [Tuesday],” Creamer wrote in a news release. “Doctors say he responded well to the surgery and are monitoring his recovery.

“Boozman’s family has visited with him and are hopeful for a full recovery. The family is appreciative of the thoughts and prayers from well-wishers.”

Boozman had been scheduled to speak Tuesday morning in Gravette to commemorate the opening of the first stretch of the Bella Vista Bypass. A ribbon cutting was held at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 72 and the new roadway just west of Hiwasse. 

Boozman, an optometrist, served Arkansas’ Third District for five terms as a U.S. Congressman. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2010.