House Speaker Michael Busch is recovering after emergency bypass surgery.

House Speaker Michael Busch endorses Ben Jealous at an event Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. (The Daily Record / Bryan P. Sears)

Busch, 71, underwent the surgery Wednesday night at the University of Maryland Medical Center after experiencing shortness of breath, according to a statement released late Thursday afternoon.

“Speaker Busch was at the University of Maryland Medical Center for a routine test,” said the statement. “He was experiencing shortness of breath so doctors recommended additional testing to determine the cause. Based on the test results, Speaker Busch underwent bypass surgery at approximately 7 p.m. last night. He is awake, alert and is expected to make a full recovery. He will return to work and the campaign trail in the next few weeks.”

Busch’s health has been the subject of discussion for more than a year.

He recently attended an endorsement event for Ben Jealous, the Democratic Party nominee for governor, in Prince George’s County. During that event, the Annapolis Democrat took multiple breaks in the front seat of his vehicle.

Wednesday’s bypass surgery comes 15 months after Busch underwent a living donor liver transplant procedure.