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Former Mayor Koch Released From Hospital

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon, a week after being admitted with fluid in his lungs and swollen ankles.

Koch, 88, was released sometime around 1 p.m. from New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center, as WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported. He initially had been expected to remain in the hospital over the weekend but doctors changed their minds and decided to let him out Saturday instead, spokesman George Arzt said Friday.

"I'm obviously delighted to go home," Koch said as he left the hospital Saturday afternoon.

Former Mayor Koch Released From Hospital

During a lunch a week ago with former staffers he felt sick and his ankles were swollen, CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported. By dinnertime, he looked so unwell a physician friend sent him straight to New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center.

"There's nothing like home," Koch said. "I mean, this is a second home, but there's nothing like home," he joked about his recent hospital visits.

Doctors have told the 88-year-old ex-mayor to limit his salt intake. He has lost 16 pounds of water.

"I'm going to do everything that (Dr.) Joe (Tenenbaum) has told me to do, and I expect that I'll be in the office the beginning of the week," Koch said.

Koch was hospitalized at New York Presbyterian with a respiratory infection in December and was treated for anemia during a brief hospital stay in September.

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