Bronny James, son of basketball superstar LeBron James, was released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Thursday, just three days after the 18-year-old suffered cardiac arrest during a college basketball practice.
Consulting cardiologist Dr. Merije Chukumerije said in a statement that James was “successfully treated for a sudden cardiac arrest.” Chukumerije credited “the swift and effective response by the USC athletics’ medical staff” after the incident Monday at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center, where the incoming freshman guard was participating in basketball practice.”
Bronny James arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center conscious, neurologically intact and stable, Chukumerije said.
“Mr. James was cared for promptly by highly trained staff and has been discharged home, where he is resting. Although his workup will be ongoing, we are hopeful for his continued progress and are encouraged by his response, resilience, and his family and community support,” Chukumerije said.
Meanwhile, in a message posted on social media, LeBron James said his family is “safe and healthy.”
“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers,” LeBron James wrote. “We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us!”
Bronny James was in intensive care for a short time, but he is expected to have extensive testing to identify the cause of his cardiac arrest.
It’s too soon to know how Bronny James’ basketball career will be affected by this health setback.
Dr. Sameer Amin, a cardiologist and chief medical officer at L.A. Care Health Plan, told the Associated Press that the teenager’s move out of intensive care this week was encouraging.
“It’s a really positive sign that they didn’t sustain too much brain damage or any brain damage, or any major heart damage in the setting of their heart-stopping,” said Amin, who is not treating Bronny James. “Usually we see that when somebody’s heart gets restarted very quickly after it stops. Also, in young people, you tend to get these bounce-backs a lot faster. It’s a really positive outcome that he’s already out of the ICU.”
Amin said it’s too soon to speculate Bronny James can return to basketball, or how quickly it could happen.
“If [the cardiac event] is happening because of a unusual blow to the chest like in the Damar Hamlin case, oftentimes those people can have a positive outcome because it’s a rare and unusual event that led to the heart-stopping,” Amin noted. “In those where there’s an underlying genetic problem or an underlying electrical issue, it can be a little bit more tricky to get somebody back on the playing field.”
More information
Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on cardiac arrest.
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