Sen. Baucus receives pacemakerAssociated Press
HELENA, Mont. - Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is doing well with a newly implanted heart pacemaker and expected to return to Washington, D.C., Monday upon his release from Minnesota's Mayo Clinic, an aide said Sunday night.
The 62-year-old Baucus, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, may be back at work Tuesday, spokesman Barrett Kaiser said.
The pacemaker was implanted Friday, three days after Baucus underwent a nonsurgical procedure at the Mayo Clinic to help correct an irregular heartbeat. The clinic said then that he likely would be hospitalized until the weekend, and probably could return to work this week.
Kaiser said the first procedure "was aimed at correcting the irregular heartbeat. The pacemaker is aimed at keeping it that way."
Baucus suffered atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality in which two of the chambers of the heart beat rapidly. The clinic said the condition is not life-threatening, but may cause shortness of breath and complications that include stroke and congestive heart failure.
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