Arnold Schwarzenegger, 70, ‘undergoes emergency open-heart surgery’

The 70-year-old underwent the medical procedure on Thursday, according to TMZ. Schwarzenegger was scheduled to have a catheter valve replacement and developed complications, US reports say.

The procedure usually means the patient can avoid having open-heart surgery.

Doctors at Cedars-Sinai hospital in LA reportedly decided an emergency open-heart operation was needed and Mr Schwarzenegger was in theatre for several hours.

The former governor of California is believed to be in a stable condition.

Earlier this week, Mr Schwarzenegger seemed in good health when he spoke to CNN about changes in the Republican party. The former politician has been critical of Donald Trump’s presidential administration.

The action star is due to reprise his previous roles as robot killer The Terminator and Conan the Barbarian over the next two years.

This is not the actor’s first heart operation. In 1997, Mr Schwarzenegger underwent elective heart surgery to replace a heart valve. He says the operation was due to a condition which was congenital and nothing to do with steroids.

He revealed in his book “Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story” that he initially kept that first operation a secret from his wife, Maria Shriver, by telling her he was on vacation in Mexico.

The Austrian-born former bodybuilder was voted in as governor of California in a historic 2003 recall vote — but proved the win was no fluke by routing opponent Phil Angelides to get re-elected. -news.sky.com