Barbara Bush recovering from heart surgery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barbara Bush, mother of former President George W. Bush, was recovering on Wednesday from heart surgery in a Houston hospital where her aortic valve was replaced, a spokeswoman said.

The surgery was performed at Methodist Hospital's DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, according to a statement released by the hospital.

The procedure was scheduled last week after Bush, 83, the wife of former President George H.W. Bush, experienced shortness of breath and doctors detected a hardened valve in her heart, the hospital said.

She also underwent surgery in late November for a perforated ulcer and was released from the hospital on December 2.

The hospital said she was "awake and alert as she recovers" in the intensive care unit. Her surgeon, Gerald Lawrie, added: "I expect her to recover fully and soon resume her normal activities." She is expected to remain hospitalized for up to 10 days.

If left untreated, a hardened aortic valve can result in heart failure or sudden cardiac death, according to the hospital. Symptoms of aortic valve disease include shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Eric Walsh)