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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We always be regarded as One of the Best Presidents!
sure wish he was president
BO will NEVER measure up to this GREAT PRESIDENT...I will never forget when CNN (Cooper) was constantly mocking you when you were out campaigning for Hillary. Get well soon, Mr. President!
My prayers go out for former President Clinton and his family.
I had severe heart failure seven years ago, and I've recovered completely, taking no medication at all now.
Mrs. CLinton and their daughter must be very frightened.
This is not a time for partisan politics.
Get well soon, Mr. President. The world still needs the steady hand of one of this nation's best presidents.
Get well and on with your life, Mr. Prtesident.
Feel better soon Bill!! lord is with you!
Best wishes to the only presdient in modern history to balance the budget, and the president who gave us the longest sustained period of economic growthin the nations history. The onlypresident in the last 50 years better than President Clinton is the current one. We need 100, 1,000 Bill Clintons to help keep the United States a great place.
You are in our prayers. God Bless. hope you have a safe and speedy recovery.
I wish him well. I wasn't a big fan but I wish him a speedy recovery.
Take care, slow down and enjoy. You've done your service, and you've done the world proud.
You're admired and appreciated here in Canada, sir.
Best Wishes My Man ! Your still the best !!
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery! And thanks for serving us well!
get well mr. clinton u r 1 of my favorite pres.
Feel Better Mr. President.
Get well Mr. President!
President Clinton has a mission and this is God's way of giving him all the time he needs. Recover soon and continue the work you were cut out to do – no one can stop you anyway!!!
My family's prayers go out to you, Chelsea and Hillary during this time of recovery.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our former President, his wife, his daughter, his soon -to- be- son, and staff members.
May God be with you Mr. Clinton>
Come on, Pres......We need the BIG DOG!!! Speedy recovery!!! Haiti needs you and America needs you more.
We wish President a speedy recovery as God has chosen him to be a great leader and a strong voice for the poor, and the needy. We will pray for Mr Clinton that he resume his duties as quickly as possible.
Thanks be to God
From a Canadian, wishing former President Clinton a quick recovery, I think he is one heck of a humantarian, also probably one of the smartst men we will see in our lifetime, good luck to the Clintons as feel the same about Hillary.
As a 63 year old male myself, I will simply say "Get well soon, President Clinton."
Prayers have been heard from around the World and it is he who has the final word.
Get well soon Mr. Clinton, we need your efforts world wide. Such as the work you did in Haiti, I know you were there twice to help. I think G.W. Bush hired on to help in Haiti, but I never saw him there.