Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillen was in intensive care at a hospital on Monday to be treated for injuries after he was thrown from a horse while riding with his family the previous day.
Pillen, 68, was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraskawhere he underwent a medical procedure for an injured spleen which he suffered while riding a new horse.
Doctors said Pillen's condition was good despite broken ribs, a slightly bruised lung, a fractured spine and a small kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. He is expected to stay in the hospital for at least another day, but is in stable condition.
The Governor performed a minimally invasive procedure called prophylactic embolization for spleen injury. Doctors passed a wire to his veins near his spleen and inserted sutures to stop the bleeding, according to Nebraska Medicine physician Hillman Terzian.
NEBRASKA GOV. JIM PILLEN COLLAPSED AFTER HORSE WAS HELPED
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen was in intensive care at the hospital Monday to treat injuries sustained after he was thrown from a horse the previous day. (Getty Images)
Terzian said Pillen performed well during the process, which he rested. The operation lasted less than an hour and GOP Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served as governor at the time and transferred the power to the commonwealth.
The governor did not have any damage to his nervous system and there were no signs of injury to his head, neck or spine, according to Terzian.
Pillen has been motivated to get out of bed and is now walking, Terzian said, noting that this is “very impressive.”
The doctor said from inside intensive care it is common in people with a spleen lesion similar to Pillen's who has broken ribs at his age. Terzian said the governor has “a very good outlook.”
LAW OFFICERS IN NEBRASKA TAP BRING 'PRESSURE' TO SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SERVICE.
Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)
“We don't expect anyone with their injuries to be running and running a marathon the next day, but we like them to get out of bed, to show us that they can take the little things, that kind of thing. “Whoa,” said Terzian. .
The most important thing for Pillen's doctor now is to control his pain.
No other operation is planned, although doctors have ways to treat his ribs, Terzian said.
Pillen made arrangements to work from his hospital room.
The governor's office said his injuries were serious, but not life-threatening, and could have been worse.
Governor Pillen is recovering from seven broken ribs, a slightly bruised lung, a fractured spine and a minor kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
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Pillen was elected governor in 2022, entering the gubernatorial race that year because former Governor Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, was limited.
The governor worked as a veterinarian and had a livestock operation before appointed to a high position in the government.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.