Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch recovering after heart surgery to replace a valve

Ex-NYC Mayor Ed Koch recovering from heart surgery

NEW YORK — Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch is recovering after surgery to replace a heart valve.

A spokesman says the 84-year-old mayor is doing as well as expected after a challenging open heart procedure at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Koch’s surgeon was Dr. Craig Smith, who performed a bypass on former President Bill Clinton in 2004.

Koch served as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989.

Koch told Mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier this week that he was doing fine and was looking forward to getting out of the hospital.