Sir Paul McCartney has undergone heart surgery, it has been revealed.
The 65-year-old musician has been mired in a bitter divorce battle with Heather Mills for the past 18 months.
He complained of feeling unwell in the autumn after a series of stressful rows with Ms Mills, 39, over arrangements for their four-year-old daughter Beatrice and the former model's public tirades against him.
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Secret operation: Sir Paul McCartney had 'routine' heart surgery in the autumn after feeling unwell following a series of rows with estranged wife Heather Mills
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Sir Paul had a coronary angioplasty - a procedure that helps unclog arteries - after seeing a Harley Street specialist at the London Clinic, according to reports.
The former Beatle recovered from the surgery quickly because he took regular exercise and had a trim physique, a friend said, adding: "He has always been in exceptional health, which is remarkable when you think of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle he once had."
Sir Paul was well enough to perform a duet with Kylie Minogue in front of millions of viewers at New Year. The pair sang his hit Dance Tonight during Jools Holland's New Year special on BBC2.
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Recovered: Sir Paul made a speedy recovery and performed with Kylie Minogue on Jools Holland's New Years Eve show
Coronary angioplasty is performed by inserting a thin tube into blood vessels in the groin and threading it up to the aorta, where a small balloon at the end of it is then inflated. The balloon squashes fatty deposits blocking the artery, allowing blood to flow more freely.
A short wire-mesh tube called a stent is usually left behind to support that part of the vessel.
Football star David Beckham's father Ted, 59, underwent the same operation after he had a heart attack.
Sir Paul and Ms Mills are still hammering out the terms of their divorce settlement after their fouryear marriage collapsed in 2006.
Next month the High Court will decide how much Ms Mills will receive of his £800 million fortune. Ms Mills could be sued by her former law firm for £2million. Last month Mishcon de Reya was said to be looking at legal action of its own to recover its fees after a preliminary divorce hearing failed to reach a settlement.
The Daily Mail