Following a heart stent procedure to remove artery blockage, former President George W. Bush is in "high spirits and eager to return home tomorrow" from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, according to a statement released by his office.

During the former president's annual physical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas on Monday, doctors recommended the operation to alleviate blockage around his heart. Surgery was carried out the next day to place a stent in the artery, Reuters reported.

According to the American Heart Association, a stent is a tiny wire mesh tube that is used to permanently prop an artery open. This procedure effectively keeps arteries open while reducing the chance of a heart attack.

Fatty deposits, also known as plaque, can often build up and eventually narrow the coronary artery, which is the artery feeding the heart muscle. If this blockage goes untreated, a clot will eventually form and increase the patient's chance of having a heart attack.

"He is grateful to the skilled medical professionals who have cared for him," the statement from his office read.

"He thanks his family, friends, and fellow citizens for their prayers and well wishes. And he encourages us all to get our regular check-ups."