Mike Pence receives pacemaker for ‘slow heart rate’

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Mike Pence is recovering after receiving a pacemaker on Wednesday, his office said Thursday.

“Over the past two weeks,” the former vice president and Indiana governor “experienced symptoms associated with a slow heart rate and, upon consultation with his doctors, underwent a procedure yesterday at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus in Falls Church, Virginia, to implant” the pacemaker, his office said. “The routine surgery was successful, and he is expected to fully recover and return to normal activity in the coming days.”

Pence in early February opened a transition office in Arlington in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., to handle correspondence, scheduling requests, public statements and official activities for himself and his wife, Karen. The Pences also are living in northern Virginia and they plan to move back to Indiana this summer.

Pence, who had previously been diagnosed with “asymptomatic left bundle branch block,” said in the statement that he was “grateful for the swift professionalism and care of the outstanding doctors, nurses and staff” at the hospital.

The former vice president did not make any major health announcements while in office, and, last year, after several of his aides tested positive for the coronavirus, including his bodyman and Marc Short, his chief of staff, Pence tested negative for the deadly virus but insisted on maintaining an aggressive campaign schedule in the final week of his reelection race. He later received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in December.

Pence is considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate if former President Donald Trump declines to run again.

CNN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.