Cheney's Post-Op Appearance: A Few Theories on Dick's Frail Frame

(Oct. 12) -- Dick Cheney is back in the public eye, after months of recovery following major heart surgery in July.

But there's now much less of Cheney to look at, as the former vice president has shed a reported 20 pounds from his frame. And that weight loss is accompanied by a disconcerting frailty, according to onlookers who watched Cheney partake in a Q&A at the Bakersfield Business Conference in California.

Of course, Cheney has never been a role model for healthy living. At 69, he's survived five heart attacks and undergone myriad surgeries and medical procedures to manage his heart disease.

The latest over the summer was a surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) into Cheney's heart. Recovery involved a month of hospital time and subsequent at-home recuperation.

Cheney's press office was largely mum throughout his surgery and recovery, and has yet to comment on the former VP's weight loss. Surge Desk, however, offers up some possible explanations for the leaner physique:

Four Weeks of Hospital Cuisine and Recovery

It's normal for surgery patients to suffer a loss of appetite -- and Cheney's procedure was no easy feat.

LVAD implants are "a major surgery," Dr. Keith Aaronson at the University of Michigan told ABC News. A pump is implanted in the abdomen, hooked up to the heart and to a small battery unit worn outside the body.

Then there's the bout of pneumonia Cheney had this summer. Combine that with an invasive heart procedure, four weeks of hospital meals and the ongoing stress of cringing at the mismanaged efforts of a "one-term president," and Cheney's weight loss hardly seems surprising.

Medically Mandated Weight Loss

Patients who've suffered a heart attack or undergone heart surgery are advised to stick to a healthy diet, avoid caffeine and alcohol, stay as active as they can and steer clear of stress.

Cheney's likely been no exception throughout his years of cardiac problems, but the former VP hasn't seemed to heed the advice. A 2006 Vanity Fair profile deemed him "easily 30 pounds overweight," and described Cheney's penchant for salting both sides of a steak.

Given the serious nature of Cheney's recent procedure, it's possible that the diet doctors are clamping down on his eating habits. And with three months of ongoing medical monitoring, Cheney's meals are probably being carefully controlled.

Or an End-of-Life Reality

Cheney's public comments steer clear of grim realities, but his most recent surgery is a stark reminder that his days may be numbered.

LVAD and similar devices are designed to extend the lives of those suffering from congestive heart failure, or act as a stopgap while a patient awaits a new heart: Fifty-eight percent of patients who've received an LVAD are alive two years later.

Once heart failure gets as serious as Cheney's, physical activity becomes limited and energy lags. Not to mention that LVAD devices are battery-powered, giving a wearer about five to six hours of mobility before needing a recharge. They also appear to suppress immunity, according to a 1999 study.

In other words, Cheney is nearly 70 and suffering the compounding effects of decades of heart problems. A 20-pound weight loss certainly fits the bill.