Walters Undergoing Heart Surgery

Veteran U.S. newswoman Barbara Walters is to undergo surgery later this week (ends16May10) to replace a faulty heart valve.

The TV legend, 80, made the announcement on her hit morning talk show The View on Monday (10May10), revealing she has known about the condition "for a while now" and finally decided to have the procedure so it coincided with the programme's hiatus later this summer (10).

She explained, "Later this week I am going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve. Now lots of people have done this. I have known ofthis condition for a while now and my doctors and I have decided this isthe best time to do the surgery. And since the summer is coming up I cantake a nice vacation".

Walters also added that doctors estimate her recovery time to be "anywhere from a month to three months".