Arkansas Sen. John Boozman is recovering well after undergoing heart surgery on Tuesday, his office says.
Boozman, 63, was taken to the hospital early Tuesday morning after suffering pain in his chest and shoulder. “After running several tests, doctors diagnosed Boozman with an acute aortic dissection and he was admitted for immediate surgery. The surgeons who performed the operation, which lasted several hours, said that Boozman responded well to the procedure,” the Republican lawmaker's office said in a statement Wednesday.
Boozman remains hospitalized but is “awake and responsive, and doctors are pleased with the progress he has made,” according to the statement.
His family thanked supporters for the well-wishes and said their top priority is ensuring the senator makes a full recovery.
“We know that if John had it his way he would be right back on the road in Arkansas, so the difficult part will be making sure he gets the rest he needs to get better," the Boozman family said in a statement.
Boozman was elected to the Senate in 2010. He previously served in the US House.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Boozman a "fantastic senator" and a "tireless advocate" for his constituents following news of his hospitalization.
"We're glad to hear that John is doing well and we all look forward to having him back at work," he said.
NBC's Kelly O'Donnell contributed to this report.
