Congressman who replaced DeLay undergoes angioplasty

Friday, December 22nd 2006, 8:51 pm

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ Congressman Nick Lampson, newly elected to the seat once held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, underwent a procedure Friday to open up a partially blocked blood vessel, his spokeswoman said.

Doctors at Christus St. John Hospital in suburban Houston performed the angioplasty on the 61-year-old Lampson and placed a stent in the vessel.

Lampson was ``conscious, alert and in good spirits throughout the procedure,'' spokeswoman Carrie Chess said in a statement. He was expected to be discharged Saturday.

His wife, Susan Lampson, drove him to the hospital Thursday night because he started feeling sick during dinner. The blockage was found during a test Friday afternoon, Chess said.

Lampson is expected to resume his normal schedule after the holidays, Chess said.