LAGUNA BEACH : Police Chief’s Artery Blockage Is Cleared
Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. was in good condition Wednesday after undergoing a medical procedure earlier this week to clear a blocked coronary artery, according to a spokeswoman from Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo.
Deputy Chief Jim Spreine said Purcell, 52, will be back at work next week.
“It’s a very minor, successful procedure,” Spreine said Wednesday. “I believe he’s going to be released this afternoon. He’ll be just relaxing for the next several days and back to full duty no later than Tuesday.”
Spreine said the artery blockage was discovered during a recent physical examination.
Doctors on Monday performed angioplasty and atherectomy procedures on Purcell. Angioplasty involves using a balloon-tipped catheter to expand the diameter of the artery. In atherectomy, another catheter with a small rotating blade is used to shave away plaque on the artery wall.
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