TBILISI, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli has undergone heart surgery at a clinic in Houston, in the United States, Georgian television said Friday.
Nogaideli has been hospitalized since April 15. Earlier reports said he needed two valves replaced. The governmental press service said earlier that Nogaideli would pay for the surgery himself, but did not disclose the cost of the operation.
"During the operation, it turned out that the premier had one damaged aortal valve, and it was replaced with a titanium implant," said David Sikharulidze, the Georgian ambassador to the United States.
The operation lasted eight hours and was a success. The Georgian prime minister will return home after two weeks of recuperation.
