PHILADELPHIA - Marcus Giles was to head back to Atlanta on Sunday to undergo a heart test and may have to undergo minor surgery, according to mlb.com.
After team trainer Jeff Porter sent him to Philadelphia Methodist Hospital on Saturday morning, Giles underwent a number of tests. He said he was told that he a valve in his heart may not be operating properly.
When he returned to the clubhouse after Saturday night's game, Giles explained that this specific valve is used to prevent blood clots and other foreign substances from entering the heart. He was told that his may not have closed, as it usually does shortly after birth.
"It's a great thing to discover it," Giles said, according to the Web site. "The main thing is getting it taken care of right away."
After leaving the hospital, Giles came away with the understanding that not treating the condition would increase his chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
Giles will be evaluated by team physician Dr. John Cantwell on Monday in Atlanta. There's a chance he'll need to undergo a procedure in which a staple is used to close the valve. The staple would be inserted through an artery in his groin area.
From what he's been told, it's a common procedure that may keep him out of action for a week.
While trying to swallow a soft drink early Saturday morning, Giles felt some discomfort that he described as "a rock going down [my throat]." Once it worked its way into his chest cavity, the pain brought him to his knees. A short time later, he arrived at Citizens Bank Park, where Porter evaluated him and sent him to the hospital.
"The pain was one thing," Giles said. "Being scared was another thing."
Friday
October 25th, 2024
7:29AM
