Taylor, 77, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure  five years ago and also has endured severe back problems and a  benign brain tumor operation. She made the announcement on her  Twitter page, saying she wanted to break the news herself  before the media found out.

“Dear Friends, I would like to let you know before it gets  in the papers that I am going into the hospital to have a  procedure on my heart,” Taylor wrote.  

“It’s very new and involves repairing my leaky valve using  a clip device, without open heart surgery, so that my heart  will function better. Any prayers you happen to have lying  around I would dearly appreciate. I’ll let you know when it’s  all over. Love you, Elizabeth,” she said.  

She often uses a wheelchair in her rare public appearances  but has enthusiastically embraced Twitter in recent months as a  way of communicating directly with her fans and the media.  

Taylor’s Hollywood publicist said he had nothing to add to  her Twitter announcement.