Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in New York on Thursday after experiencing chest pain, two sources told CNN. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
New York (CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton was in "good spirits" Thursday after undergoing a procedure to insert two stents into one of his coronary arteries, his office said.
Clinton, 63, was hospitalized at the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after experiencing chest pain, according to Douglas Band, counselor to the former president.
Despite other media reports that he had left the hospital, Clinton remained there Thursday evening, a spokesman for the hospital said.
A stent is a tiny tube that is inserted into a narrowed or blocked vessel to open it up and allow blood to travel through, according to CNN's chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta.
A source close to the former president said "he is fine" and will recuperate.
Clinton's wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left the White House after a meeting in the Oval Office and headed to New York, a State Department official said. The Clintons' daughter, Chelsea Clinton, was with her father, according to spokeswoman Julie Goldberg.
In a written statement, Band said, "President Clinton is in good spirits, and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti's relief and long-term recovery efforts."
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Updated: 6:06 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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I hope it's nothing serious. Get well Bill, we still need you!
Father God, If it's your will for Mr. Clinton to recover we ask you to do this in wholeness, if you have called him home as you preordained may he remember as he walks through the valley of death that you are with him. Thank you Lord.
Our prayers are with all the Clinton family right now.
I pray he recovers soon. We have lost far to many great leaders.
Mr. President,Hold on! the US still needs you! The American people should remember that your Presidency,ended in surplus!
Sincerely,Martin
Get well soon Mr President !!!
Prayers to President Clinton and his family.
I add my best wishes to former President Clinton for an easy recovery. I have always held him in high regard, as well as his good wife and daughter. Let this not be an occasion for partisan one-up-manship.!
Get well soon President Clinton. Our country and this world needs you. Our prayers and respect are with you always.
I pray that you will get well soon. Our prayers are with and you family
Take some well deserved rest Mr. Clinton. The world will not stop for you, but you will have to stop before you get sick. Unfortunately, poverty and homelessness will still be here when you have recovered. We'll do our part to attack it, now you do yours to get better.
Good thoughts and prayers to the president.
From one Southren to another we are not going to let a little heart pain stop us. Get well soon Mr. President
Prayers to the clintons
I wish him a quick recovery.
There's one thing I will always remember about President Clinton and that is that he will always be OUR President. The people's President. I hope he gets well soon.
Our Prayers are with The Cliinton family. May God Bless you all.
Peace and Blessings and speedy recovery Mr. President.
Wild Bill... Wish you the best. Didn't vote for you, but still wish you the best. My dad has 7 stints and a quadruple and he's still as honory as ever....
Take care..
Get well Mr President.. America needs you...This World needs you..
get well soon Bill CLinton. Americans and Haiti stll needs you
I wish you speedy recovery Mr. President. You've have been and will continue to be a mentor to millions.
Praying for the greatest president ever!
Please be well President Clinton! You are and will forever be one of the best presidents we have ever had. Get well to carry on all the good works that you do. Our thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.
Get well soon, President Clinton. We need you.
We wish you well for a fast and speedy recovery Mr President.