“He had no history of epilepsy or compulsive status”: doctors react to Javier Altamirano’s complex diagnosis

Javier Altamirano is recovering with his family. The crisis he suffered on Sunday, while the 25′ of the duel between Estudiantes de La Plata and Boca Juniors was being played, worried the whole world. The scene was dramatic and the moment intense. Teammates and rivals united in uncertainty and anxiety.

The medical report issued by Estudiantes de La Plata deepens the concern. “After the studies carried out today, it was determined that the cause of the seizure suffered by the player was a thrombosis of the superior longitudinal sinus (brain). He is stable, taking appropriate medications and awaiting further studies. He will remain hospitalized for progressive monitoring. “, declares the punmarrata club.

The diagnosis puts medicine on alert. In fact, directly, it escapes the field of sports and moves more into the field of neurosurgery and neurology. In sport, yes, there is the background closest to Altamirano’s clinical record . Those who had the opportunity to help him were surprised by a situation they could hardly have imagined. Not just in your case. They say the situation is very strange in a top athlete. .

“First of all, it touches me because I know him from the national under-20 team. . He had no history of epilepsy or compulsive status. It’s probably the first. Thrombosis is an intense and strong word, but it simply means that there is a thrombus in a blood vessel. When they’re in an artery, it tends to stop the flow, which changes the blood supply and that’s what produces the reaction. They can be chronic or sudden, as in this case “, explains Felipe Rojas, who was a member of the ANFP medical staff and has extensive experience in the field of treating high-level athletes.

The next thing is concern about Altamirano’s development. “I know Dr. Montenegro, the doctor at Estudiantes de La Plata, so I know they will give him good treatment. What we need to do, strictly speaking, is try to reduce the probability of a new event. Stop for a while until it is dissolved pharmacologically or see the surgical alternative. Dilute the thrombus . That is, in simple terms. Deadlines cannot be fixed. They depend on the location, size and affected area or consequences without bleeding. It can take two to three months, unless they opt for initial surgery,” he explains.

Of course, this demonstrates that the outlook is optimistic regarding the recovery. “Generally, in other organs, it does not cause after-effects. You return to 100% of your cardiovascular or motor capacities. In the case of the head, some play with helmets “, Explain.

Neurosurgeon Andrés Cancino shares this vision. “It depends on the cause, extent and time to start treatment. One of the causes of thrombosis is a hard blow, especially if there are no risk factors. Among men, and even more among young people, it is rare. This may be due to trauma ”, theorizes, however, specifying that all precise contextual information must be in view to make an opinion.

“I insist on the fact that we must look at the specific case, the moment when the diagnosis was made, the response to treatment. Each patient reacts differently “, Add. He is also cautious about how long it will take him to return to the fields. “Only a month to go until we see how the treatment went. “, establishes.

“The word thrombosis refers to the clotting of blood in a vessel. Sometimes it solidifies and this causes a blockage in an artery or vein. In this case, it’s a vein. This therefore produces obstruction of venous drainage. . In the case of the artery, oxygen stops reaching part of the brain. It’s like a drain is blocked, so to speak. Sometimes the thrombosis begins to spread and involve more veins, and there the blood has nowhere to return. There may be edema, increased pressure, serious damage or even death. », summarizes the professional.

Although surgery is an option in these cases, Cancino maintains that treatment with blood thinners is the most viable. “If it is something minor, it was treated in time and the vein was recanalized, you can return to your normal life. “, he adds, about a return to sporting activities.

Humberto Verdugo, also with extensive experience in the field of sports medicine, reinforces this conviction. “In the event of thrombosis, the blood clots. In the brain, veins do not change in diameter. There are some serious ones and others that are well tolerated. We need to understand why “, he maintains.

The evolution of Altamirano in recent hours allows him, to a certain extent, a projection of tranquility. “The downpour has already passed. He is currently undergoing treatment. This may be due to infections, alterations, tumors or may be idiopathic, the cause of which is not known. But ultimately it happens to older patients. Veins are responsible for carrying blood from the brain to the heart. It can be fatal at some point . This is why it is essential to know the cause. If it’s something that is quickly identified and managed with medication, it might come back quickly, but it’s not something that appears on a daily basis. This does not appear in any sports medicine textbook. It is aimed more at neurosurgeons or neurologists. In 15 years, I have never seen a diagnosis like this in a footballer “, sentence.