Elizabeth Taylor tweets about undergoing heart procedure

LOS ANGELES -- Elizabeth Taylor says she's headed to the hospital for a heart procedure.

The 77-year-old actress told her followers on Twitter that she is to undergo a "very new" procedure to improve heart function that "involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device" rather than open-heart surgery.

"Any prayers you happen to have lying around I would dearly appreciate," Taylor wrote Tuesday, adding that she plans to inform her 155,944 Twitter followers when the procedure is complete. She did not say when or where she is having treatment.

A representative for Taylor did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment.