Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen was in intensive care at a hospital Monday receiving treatment for injuries he suffered after falling from a horse while riding with his family the day before.
Pillen, 68, was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where he underwent a medical procedure for a spleen injury he suffered when he was torn off a new horse.
Doctors said Pillen’s prognosis was positive despite seven rib fractures, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae and a minor kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. He is expected to remain in the hospital for at least one more day, but is in stable condition.
The governor underwent a minimally invasive procedure called prophylactic embolization for the spleen injury. Doctors ran a wire through his arteries near his spleen and inserted coils to stop the bleeding, according to Nebraska Medicine trauma surgeon Hillman Terzian.
NEBRASKA GOVERNMENT. JIM PILLEN HOSPITALIZED AFTER HE WAS TAKEN FROM A HORSE
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was in intensive care at a hospital Monday treating injuries suffered after falling from a horse the day before. (Getty Images)
Terzian said Pillen did well during the procedure, for which he was sedated. The operation lasted less than an hour and Republican Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly acted as governor for the moment in a routine transfer of power.
The governor did not suffer any damage to his nervous system and there were no signs of injury to his head, neck or spinal canal, according to Terzian.
Pillen has been motivated to get out of bed and has already wandered around, Terzian said, noting that this is “very impressive.”
The doctor said being in intensive care is normal for people with a spleen injury similar to Pillen’s and rib fractures at his age. Terzian said the governor had a “very good prognosis.”
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Nebraska Republican Governor Jim Pillen was treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)
“We don’t expect anyone with their injuries to be running a marathon the next day, but we like to get them out of bed, to show us that they can pick up small objects, that kind of thing,” Terzian said. .
The biggest priority for Pillen’s doctor right now is controlling his pain.
No other operations are planned, although doctors have options to treat his ribs, Terzian said.
Pillen has made arrangements to work from his hospital room.
The governor’s office said his injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and could have been much worse.
Governor Pillen is recovering from seven rib fractures, a partially collapsed lung, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae, and a minor kidney injury that is expected to heal on its own. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
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Pillen was elected governor in 2022 and ran for governor that year because former Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, was term-limited.
The governor worked as a veterinarian and owned a livestock operation before being elected to the highest office in the state.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
