Clinton goes home after surgery

The former president thanked Americans for their prayers

Former US President Bill Clinton has left hospital, four days after a follow-up operation to his quadruple heart bypass surgery six months ago.

Mr Clinton, 58, had fluid and scar tissue removed under general anaesthetic at a New York hospital.

He will continue his recovery at home, a spokesman for New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Centre said.

Mr Clinton said he hoped to return to work within about a month.

His wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, accompanied him from the hospital to his home in Chappaqua, about 40 miles (65km) north of New York.

Rare complication

"I'm glad to be home and look forward to getting back to work," Mr Clinton said.

The former president said he, Mrs Clinton and their daughter Chelsea were "very grateful to the medical team that cared for me at the hospital, and we deeply appreciate all the prayers and good wishes we've received in recent days".

The Clintons said they were grateful for people's messages of support

In a complication arising in only a fraction of cases, scar tissue had formed as a result of fluid build-up, causing a compression of the left lung and some discomfort to Mr Clinton.

Doctors at the hospital said the four-hour procedure had not been "medically urgent" and Mr Clinton's activities had not contributed to his condition.

He is expected to make a full recovery and had already started to walk around his hospital room, his office said on Monday.

The former president underwent quadruple bypass surgery in September after complaining of suffering pains in his chest and breathing difficulties.

Doctors said he had been in imminent danger of a major heart attack before that operation.