| | PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns team doctor believes that the
seizure forward Tom Gugliotta suffered after Friday night's game in
Portland almost certainly was an isolated incident that likely
won't reoccur.
"I feel very confident that we're going to be OK with this,"
Dr. Richard Emerson said before the Suns played the Milwaukee Bucks
on Monday night. "The statistics vary, but approximately 60 to 70
percent of single, isolated cases remain isolated. ... I feel very
confident that this is a single, isolated incident."
Gugliotta remained at home on Monday but could return to the
team in time for its home game Sunday night against Golden State.
In the meantime, a series of tests are planned to further try to
determine what caused the seizure.
"Basically these are stress types of tests to evaluate the
cardiovascular system and some of these other, lesser, more rare
causes of syndromes that can lower what's known as the seizure
threshold level," Emerson said.
Gugliotta was on the team bus in the loading bay of the Rose
Garden, talking with his wife on a cell phone, when the seizure
occurred. Emerson has said it was extremely fortunate that the
seizure did not occur on the team's flight home, when the necessary
equipment to revive him wouldn't be available.
Gugliotta, who returned to Phoenix on Saturday, was treated
Sunday night for a leakage of dye from a spinal tap that had been
performed in a Portland, Ore., hospital. The leakage caused what's
known as a spinal tap headache that has since subsided, Emerson
said.
"At this point, we want to keep him at rest today and tomorrow
so that will be effective and he won't have any side effects during
our diagnosis and treatment programs," Emerson said.
The spinal tap, an EKG test and a CAT scan performed in Portland
all showed no sign of any problem.
Even if the seizure is determined to have a chance to reoccur,
the condition could be treated with medication, Emerson said.
Gugliotta has no history of seizures or other serious health
problems. Several factors could have made him more susceptible,
Emerson said.
"If there's a dehydration situation, low sodium, a combination
of muscle fatigue, an empty stomach -- all of these can potentially
lower the seizure threshold," Emerson said. "We're just working
through it right now and evaluating all of the possible causes and
dietary intake prior to and following the seizure."
The spinal headache slowed the timetable for Gugliotta's return.
Initially, Emerson said it was thought Gugliotta could be back by
Thursday night's game against Dallas.
Coach Scott Skiles said he has spoken with Gugliotta and told
him not to rush back.
"I love the guy on the team and all of that, but it almost
doesn't matter to me at this point when he plays. I'm just glad
he's here to be able play at some point," Skiles said. "It was
just very scary, so that's what I relayed to him, to get rest.
"The doctor feels like he needs some time to get his legs under
him, and he tells me he's still feeling kind of groggy, so we'll
just take that day by day and see how he feels." | |
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