Sen. Mark Kirk Doing Well After Second Surgery, Doctor Says

Chicago - U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke this past weekend, was “alert (and) responsive” Thursday, and even gave a thumbs-up to doctors, according to a statement from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital on Saturday, according to a release from his office.

Doctors there discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck and he was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where further tests revelaed the senator had suffered an ischemic stroke , according to the release.

A ischemic stroke occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked.

Krk underwent surgery early Monday morning to relieve swelling around his brain stemming from the stroke, The surgery was successful.

Dr. Richard Fessler, neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial, said Thursday in a statement from the hospital, “Senator Kirk continues to progress as expected and remains in serious but stable condition this morning with no change in his neurological or physical prognosis.

“Late yesterday, we performed a common surgical procedure to create more space around the Senator’s brain in order to accommodate the expected peaking of swelling. The procedure, which removed two small pieces of tissue previously destroyed and rendered non-functional by the Senator’s stroke, was completed successfully and without complication.”

Fessler said, “the procedure is unlikely to have any impact on his physical or neurological prognosis. Upon examination this morning, the Senator was alert, responsive and gave us the thumbs-up on request.”

Doctors are very confident about Kirk’s recovery over the weeks ahead.