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Gov. Corbett Undergoes Successful Hernia Surgery

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - For 85 minutes Thursday morning, Pennsylvania had a new governor.

That's the period that Gov. Tom Corbett was under general anesthesia for a simple laparoscopic hernia surgery.

During that time, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley served as acting governor.

Corbett entered Allegheny General Hospital very early this morning and was operated on at 7:10 a.m.

The governor's office reported that the hour-and-a-half surgery -- performed by Dr. John Raves -- was routine and went well, and the governor was in good spirits.

His wife Susan was with him, and he's now recuperating at his home in Shaler.

This is not the first time the governor has had surgery.

He was in the hospital for back surgery in 2011 and had a mild heart attack in 1997.

The state Constitution provides for the lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor while the governor is incapacitated.

In this case, Corbett was awake and alert by 8:35 a.m., and physicians then cleared him to resume his powers.

If all continues to go well, the governor hopes to be back at his desk in Harrisburg on Monday.

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