Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) was hospitalized on Monday after “experiencing severe swelling in her upper left leg” and ultimately underwent surgery for a blood clot, her campaign team said in a statement.
The lawmaker, 37, was admitted to the UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, where she underwent a CT scan. Doctors diagnosed her with May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), a rare condition that disrupts blood flow, according to her campaign.
Doctors recommended and scheduled surgery to remove the clot and to insert a stent to address the congresswoman’s symptoms, according to the statement.
Ms. Boebert underwent the surgery—which was successful—on Monday morning and doctors have recommended she now take time out to rest.
In the meantime, she is expected to make a full recovery with “no significant concerns for her long-term health and no hindrance to her ability to perform her duties as a congresswoman,” her campaign said.
The lawmaker, who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, thanked hospital staff for “their great care and providing helpful insight on my recent diagnosis.”
May-Thurner Syndrome Symptoms
May-Thurner Syndrome—sometimes called Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome or Cockett Syndrome—is a condition that occurs when the right iliac artery, which sends blood to your right leg, compresses the left iliac vein. This vein carries blood from your left leg back to your heart, and the compression restricts blood flow to your heart, according to the Cleveland Clinic.Left untreated, this increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot, due to the blood pooling in the legs, the clinic states.
While many people do not display any symptoms of May-Thurner syndrome, others may feel heaviness in the legs or have open sores and skin discoloration or swelling along with varicose veins.
Doctors are not entirely sure why the compression seen in May-Thurner syndrome happens, or what causes the condition.
Ms. Boebert’s campaign team pointed to dehydration, travel, and extended periods of sitting as potential factors.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, May-Thurner syndrome primarily affects women between the ages of 20 and 45 and is typically treated with surgery, including bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stenting.
In some cases, the right iliac artery is removed.
“We successfully performed surgery on the congresswoman this morning and expect her to make a full recovery,” said Dr. Bade, a hospitalist at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. “Patients with May-Thurner Syndrome who undergo the procedure to restore blood flow are able to live and work just as they have in the past after a brief recovery.”
Ms. Boebert’s hospitalization comes as she is currently seeking the congressional seat in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, which spans Weld County, Douglas County, and the eastern part of the state.
The Republican lawmaker has not previously represented the fourth district but it leans more heavily toward Republicans compared to her current district, which spans Colorado’s Western Slope into Pueblo and southeastern Colorado, following redistricting.
Ms. Boebert has said she plans to relocate to the 4th District this year, although it is unclear exactly when.
