US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin finally discharged after surgery

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was  released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday, ending his second stay since surgery to treat prostate cancer. 

The 70 year old  had ongoing health issues since undergoing surgery in December.

He was taken back to Walter Reed on Sunday for a bladder issue and admitted to intensive care for a second time. He underwent a non-surgical procedure under general anesthesia on Monday.

Austin’s doctors said Tuesday that his bladder issue was related to the surgery.

The bladder issue was not related to his cancer diagnosis and will have no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis,” Dr. John Maddox, trauma medical director, and Dr. Gregory Chesnut, director of the Center for Prostate Disease Research at the Murtha Cancer Center, said in a statement.

On their advice, Austin will work from home before returning to the Pentagon later this week. His home has “full access to the unclassified and classified communications systems necessary to perform his duties,” the Pentagon said in a statement.