Arnold Schwarzenegger Undergoes Heart Surgery

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Arnold Schwarzenegger has undergone a open heart operation.

The 70-year-old Terminator star was taken to Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles for a catheter valve replacement on Thursday 29 March.

According to TMZ, there were complications with this experimental procedure.

Doctors then decided to conduct the open-heart surgery, which reportedly took several hours. The doctors had apparently been prepared in advance for the valve to potentially fail.

The actor is said to be in a stable condition, according to TMZ sources. Schwarzenegger’s representatives have yet to offer comment.

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Back in 1997, Schwarzenegger underwent an aortic valve replacement procedure. Although doctors did not feel the operation was needed at the time, the Austrian-American former body builder wanted to have it done while he was still a young man.

At the time, Schwarzenegger explained this was a congenital condition, with no connection to steroid use; making the following comment to the LA Times:

I’ve never felt sick or had any symptoms at all, but I knew I’d have to take care of this condition sooner or later.

I said to the doctors, ‘Let’s do it now, while I’m young and healthy.’ They agreed this was the way to go.

Schwarzenegger decided not to have a mechanical valve replacement, instead choosing a tissue valve due to concerns a mechanical valve could restrict his physical activity and ability to keep fit.

Watch Schwarzenegger discuss his hereditary heart problem below:

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Schwarzenegger reportedly did not inform wife Maria Shriver about his 1997 surgery, pretending to have just jetted off on holiday; which led to his doctor calling him ‘crazy.’

Speaking back in 2012 on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Schwarzenegger said:

He said, ‘Your wife is pregnant, what do you mean you are not going to tell her?’

I told him, ‘Here is the plan, I am going to have the heart surgery, you do it quietly, no one knows about it, we do it at six in the morning.’

Four days later I am out of here and I go to Mexico and I will tell Maria I am down here, a little busy and I am on vacation, when I come back I’ll be tanned and no one will know.

Schwarzenegger began bodybuilding at the age of just 15 and went on to compete for, and win, the Mr Universe title at the age of 20.

He would go on to forge a career as a Hollywood action hero, starring in movies such as The Running Man, Predator and Total Recall.

He was first elected into political office on 7 October 2003, and was the 38th Governor of California until 2011.

A Republican himself, he once criticised President Donald Trump for apparently suggesting some neo-Nazis were ‘fine people,’ making the following comment in a video for ATTN:

There are not two sides to bigotry. There are not two sides to hatred. And if you choose to march with a flag that symbolises the slaughter of millions of people, there are not two sides.

The only way to beat the loud, angry voices of hate is to meet them with louder, more reasonable voices.

And that includes you, President Trump.

Kind thoughts have flooded in for the Hollywood icon, with one well-wisher stating ‘Thoughts and prayers go out to Arnold.’

Another offered an inspirational quote from the man himself:

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.

Love this quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

We wish Arnold Schwarzenegger a full recovery.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.