Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy To Miss Two Weeks After Undergoing Minor Heart Procedure
The Bruins issued an update on Charlie McAvoy on Monday after the rookie defenseman underwent a minor surgical procedure on his heart. Dr. David Finn gave the update on the…
Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins shoots the puck against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on Jan. 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)The Bruins issued an update on Charlie McAvoy on Monday after the rookie defenseman underwent a minor surgical procedure on his heart.
Dr. David Finn gave the update on the surgery, which took place at the Mass. General Hospital on Monday. The 20-year-old originally complained of heart palpitations after the Bruins' Nov. 26 game against the Edmonton Oilers. Team doctors then diagnosed him with a "supraventricular tachycardia," also known as an SVT.
McAvoy's condition is "not considered to be dangerous to his health," according to Dr. Finn's statement, but "can recur at any time and causes significant symptoms." But the plan is to evaluate him at Mass. General for the next two weeks before he can return to the ice.
The rookie is second among Bruins defensemen with 25 points this season, and second on the team with 22:49 of ice time per game.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)(L-R) Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Charlie McAvoy Surgery Explained
The procedure McAvoy underwent is called an "ablation." Its purpose is to "treat an abnormal heart rhythm," per the Bruins.
Boston's decision to perform McAvoy's surgery came due to a "high probability of recurrence" of his SVT. Bruins team doctors cleared McAvoy to play and monitored him closely from the initial occurrence through last Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Any time a player's heart enters the discussion, it's a frightening proposition. But clearly, it's not the kind of condition that would immediately knock McAvoy off the ice if it happened. Former NHL-er Patrick O'Sullivan weighed in on the ablation procedure, which he had during his career, describing it as "nothing to worry about."
But still, this is an extremely promising 20-year-old player with an unusual heart condition. So it's also normal to worry a little bit.
-- By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
