Rep. Murtha Hospitalized For Complications From Gallbladder Surgery

Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) is in a Virginia hospital for complications from a gallbladder removal done laparascopically last week. The original procedure was done at Bethesda Naval Hospital last week, and apparently Rep. Murtha had complications requiring admission to Virginia Medical Center in Arlington.

Murtha, 77, had been suffering from gallbladder pain and problems in December and arranged to have the organ removed last week at Bethesda Naval Hospital. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democrat declined to discuss the seriousness of the situation that sent Murtha back to another hospital's intensive care unit.

"Congressman Murtha underwent a scheduled laparoscopic surgery to remove his gallbladder last week," his spokesman Matt Mazonkey said. "Complications did arise from the surgery and he is currently at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington."

Patients who undergo gallbladder surgery can face significant tenderness and recovery issues, but serious complications are rare -- occurring in as few as 0.6 to 2.2 percent of cases.

One potential complication related to the kind of surgery that Murtha underwent results from accidental cutting of the common bile ducts. These nicks can lead to bile backing up in the blood stream and serious infections.

I'm no fan of Murtha, but wish him a swift recovery.