Cheney could be released from hospital soon

Video: Doctor explains Cheney’s fluid ailment

Open in new window

2. Transcript of: Doctor explains Cheney’s fluid ailment

   Advertise | AdChoices

   HOLT: Mike Viqueira this morning, thanks. Dr. Sung Lee is a cardiologist who implanted a device in Dick Cheney to regulate his heartbeat nine years ago. He joins us from Washington . Dr. Lee , good morning. Thanks so much for joining us. Dr. SUNG LEE (Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Washington Adventist Hospital ): Good morning.

   HOLT: Explain the terminology, progressive retention of fluid. In layman's terms, what does that mean?

   Dr. LEE: Well the progressive retention of fluid means the heart is not working well enough, and fluid is actually backing up into the tissues, and you're getting congestion of the tissues.

   HOLT: Congestion. Is that the same as we hear the term " congestive heart failure ," the same thing?

   Dr. LEE: It's very similar. In a way it is the same thing. Congestive heart failure can mean many things. Congestive heart failure is a chronic illness that happens in people with weakened heart muscle .

   HOLT: And how easily is it treated?

   Dr. LEE: Well, the congestive heart failure is a chronic illness, and there will -- at times will have exacerbation of congestive heart failure , and when somebody has congestive heart failure main medications we use is diuretics, intravenous diuretics.

   HOLT: Doctor, in the case of the ex -vice president, you're looking at a patient who's had five heart attacks , he's had bypass surgery, angioplasty, a pacemaker, a couple of episodes of atrial fibrillation ; what's the next level of treatment for a patient with that kind of history?

   Dr. LEE: Well, he actually has done very well, considering that he had many heart attacks , and he has had weakened heart muscle . The -- in general, patients with a congestive heart failure can be treated very well with the medications.

   HOLT: And what kind of symptoms would he have been experiencing before this last episode? What would he have been feeling?

   Dr. LEE: He had two heart issues going on. One was atrial fibrillation , which is a rapid heart -- racing of the heart, and fluid retention , which is the heart failure . So symptoms he will feel is shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty in lying down, and sometimes they will feel heart racing sensation. Now, if the heart is racing fast enough in somebody who has a coronary artery disease, they may also feel chest pain.

   HOLT: All right, and now, assuming he gets out of the hospital as anticipated, does he pick up a normal schedule right away?

   Dr. LEE: Absolutely. The -- as long as -- if somebody has exacerbation of heart failure , the main -- the most important thing is find a trigger, what triggered this particular event. And it sounds like if he had atrial fibrillation , certainly atrial fibrillation can trigger and exacerbate the heart failure , and once we control atrial fibrillation and once we control the -- control fluid retention , he should be able to go back to his normal, active lifestyle.

   HOLT: All right. Dr. Sung Lee , we appreciate you spending time with us this morning. Thank you so much .

   Dr. LEE: Thank you so much .

   Show transcript