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Cheney's aneurysm surgery a success
 Cheney touring Hurricane Katrina damage at Gulfport, Mississippi, earlier this month. RELATEDYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Cheney underwent surgery Saturday to remove aneurysms found on the back of both knees. The procedure lasted six hours and there were no complications. Presently, the vice president is awake, alert, and comfortable, according to a news release from Cheney's office. It added that after the procedure on Cheney's right knee "went exceedingly smoothly" a decision was made to also repair the aneurysm behind the left knee using a similar technique. Initially, the left knee was to be fixed at a later date. Jenny Mayfield, of the vice president's office, said doctors in July "identified arterial aneurysms behind both knees." (Cheney to undergo surgery) Cheney later decided to have the "arteries repaired utilizing a minimally invasive endovascular technique." Mayfield said Cheney expects to resume his normal schedule as soon as he is released to home. An aneurysm is a ballooning weak spot in an artery that, as blood pounds through, can eventually burst if left untreated. Those in the knee, popliteal aneurysms, act a little differently, according to The Associated Press. They are less likely to burst than are aneurysms in other parts of the body, according to AP. But blood clots can form in the weakened artery that can break off and cause a stroke, or block circulation in the leg. Typical surgical repair is to open the leg and sew a fabric patch onto the artery to reinforce the weak spot. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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