Syracuse football defensive tackle Steven Clark's career put in jeopardy by blood clots

[Chicago44s]

Exasctly, which is why we're so pissed.

So sorry to read this bcubs, Steven was one of the guys who seeemed like he put the team ahead his own personal interests. One of my favorite players for sticking with us over UF late. I hope he doesn't regret his decision. He played hard every down no matter the score. We could use 100 other guys like your son. I'm really hoping something can be done here but no matter the outcome I feel like your son will be a success in whatever he does moving forward.

 

[orangenirvana]

I most definitely wanna know the coaching staffs reaction to this news.

Exclusive footage of coaching staff's collective reaction...

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

That, and the fact that the Drs down here said it wasn't necessary.

If possible, you should find the best Dr. for this issue in NYC, Boston, Philly, Cleveland, Pittsburg, etc. ( all w/in 6 hours of Syracuse) and get the best answer for Steven.
While there are good doctors everywhere, on the whole, the best and the brightest go to the big name facilities.
Good luck and God bless.

 

[nralecuse]

It has been a long time since I have posted but I always read the best site with the best fans of our alma mater.
This situation is very difficult and I hope the following information can serve a useful purpose.

Treatment of VT: [Venous Thrombosis] is evolving with recent development of new oral anticoagulants.
Widely agreed upon:

• VT is common
• The cause for thrombophilia [clotting] often does not change approach to therapy
• Treatment decisions are based on clinical setting
• Initial duration of treatment is 3-6 months. BEYOND that, the focus is on secondary prevention. Duration of therapy can be difficult to define. [ consideration given to risk factors [i.e.: major surgery, major trauma, immobilization, acute medical illness, central venous catheter, pregnancy, prolonged travel >5 hours], site of thrombosis [DVT, Atrial etc.], bleeding risk.
• Factor V Leiden is the most common Inherited Risk Factor occurring in 5% European Heritage

INITIAL THERAPY:
Recommendation for provoked Proximal DVR/PE is anticoagulation for 3 months.
Recommendation for unprovoked Proximal DVR/PE is anticoagulation for >3 months with periodic reassessment.
[Source: Kearon C et al. Chest 2012 (suppl): e419S-494S]

Warfarin vs Direct Thrombin Inhibitors [Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis, Savaysa]:

• Can't play contact sports if taking these medications
• Compared to Warfarin; Direct Thrombin Inhibitors show superior reduction of stroke/systemic embolic events as well as reduced hemorrhagic stroke
• Global bleeding events are equal between the two groups however DTI's showed increased GE bleeding events when compared to warfarin
• Warfarin effect can be reversed. DTI's effect can not yet be reversed; (Note: A reversal agent has recently come on market)

GO ORANGE !!

 

[bcubs9497]

I'm pretty sure cuselegacy posted this earlier:

Heterozygous factor V Leiden is found in about 5% of the white population and is most common in people of Northern European descent and in some Middle Eastern populations, whereas the homozygous form is found in fewer than 1%. Factor V Leiden is less common in the Hispanic populations and is rare in Asian, African, and Native American populations.

Factor V Leiden is associated with an increased risk of developing an episode of DVT (with or without a PE). Approximately 1 in every 1000 people will develop a DVT or PE each year, and this increases from about 1 in 10 000 for those in their twenties to about 5 in 1000 for those in their seventies. Heterozygous factor V Leiden increases the risk of developing a first DVT by 5- to 7-fold (or 5 to 7 in 1000 people each year). Thus, even though the relative risk of developing a DVT seems high, the absolute risk of having a DVT is still quite low with factor V Leiden. Factor V Leiden is thus a weak risk factor for developing blood clots; in fact, most people who have heterozygous factor V Leiden never develop blood clots. Homozygous factor V Leiden increases the risk of developing clots to a greater degree, about 25- to 50-fold. If you have the heterozygous form of factor V Leiden, the lifetime risk of developing a DVT is 10% or less, but may be higher if you have close family members who have had a DVT. Very often, people with factor V Leiden have additional risk factors that contributed to the development of blood clots (Table). Having factor V Leiden alone does not appear to increase the risk of developing arterial thrombosis, that is, heart attacks and strokes.

 

[Trueblue25]

I feel for Steven and his family. But I also feel for Babers and his staff for having to put up with this BS. They're already at a disadvantage in so many ways against their ACC peers. Add a paranoid medical staff that DQ's players against their families' wishes left and right. Brilliant.

The way I see it, you either use the same medical standards as all of the other Power conference programs (for better or worse) OR you drop the program as being too harmful. This half-in / half-out approach is not benefiting anyone. The players they DQ (who are good enough) just transfer and keep playing football anyway.

SU buys itself a cool skateboard and tries to ride it up hill after taking two wheels off.

 

[bcubs9497]

If possible, you should find the best Dr. for this issue in NYC, Boston, Philly, Cleveland, Pittsburg, etc. ( all w/in 6 hours of Syracuse) and get the best answer for Steven.
While there are good doctors everywhere, on the whole, the best and the brightest go to the big name facilities.
Good luck and God bless.

The vascular surgeon we took Steven to, Dr Stucky, did his residency at Baylor University.

 

[Alsacs]

I just emailed the chair of the Syracuse Board of Trustees
Home - barnes

The school asks for support from alumni. This decision just oozes fear of lawsuit. That is such a bush league way to make decisions.

 

[javadoc]

I'm pretty sure cuselegacy posted this earlier...

Short and direct. Is there medical evidence, or have any of the doctors expressed their professional opinion, that the clot was caused by the actions of a member of our training staff?

 

[bcubs9497]

Short and direct. Is there medical evidence, or have any of the doctors expressed their professional opinion, that the clot was caused by the actions of a member of our training staff?

To the best of my knowledge, no.

 

[HtownOrange]

This is not a decision taken lightly but it appears that the decision was made without medical evidence of an ongoing problem. I hope the university takes a long hard look at the policy and the decision makers.

I hope the grown ups meet over the next day or two consider an unbiased opinion from at least one more expert.

 

[orangehomer]

I wonder how much longer Dino puts up with this and moves on. ED last year and now this. :bang:

good, if he can't win with healthy players than he should move on.

 

[nralecuse]

Having factor V Leiden alone does not appear to increase the risk of developing arterial thrombosis, that is, heart attacks and strokes.
bcubs:
I think you previously said something about a lot of CYA.
I am sorry to learn of this difficult situation you now have to confront. This scene seems applicable.
Rocky Balboa - No Right to Deny Happiness (2006)
GO ORANGE

 

[orangehomer]

What I don't get is the fact that this Dr is a family practice physician who has no specialty accreditation. He is absolutely in over his head and the University should be dealing strictly with specialists in this area of expertise.

I love how there are a bunch of armchair doctors on this board that see fit to criticize actual professionals that, you know, actually have liability.

 

[bcubs9497]

I love how there are a bunch of armchair doctors on this board that see fit to criticize actual professionals that, you know, actually have liability.

A question, then. Would you knowingly take a patient off a blood thinner when a clot (back in April) is still present? Because that's exactly what happened. Took Steven off Xarelto in April, just after the spring game.

 

[nralecuse]

A question, then. Would you knowingly take a patient off a blood thinner when a clot (back in April) is still present? Because that's exactly what happened. Took Steven off Xarelto in April, just after the spring game.

Meds typically are not stopped until Ultrasound has shown clot dissolved. Can' imagine there were other issues: primarily bleeding that had occurred.

 

[bcubs9497]

Having factor V Leiden alone does not appear to increase the risk of developing arterial thrombosis, that is, heart attacks and strokes.
bcubs:
I think you previously said something about a lot of CYA.
I am sorry to learn of this difficult situation you now have to confront. This scene seems applicable.
Rocky Balboa - No Right to Deny Happiness (2006)
GO ORANGE

Yeah, sums it up nicely.

 

[bcubs9497]

Meds typically are not have been stopped until Ultrasound has shown clot dissolved.

That's the thing. At that time, it didn't (from what they said), yet they did. Explain that.

 

[orangehomer]

A question, then. Would you knowingly take a patient off a blood thinner when a clot (back in April) is still present? Because that's exactly what happened. Took Steven off Xarelto in April, just after the spring game.

I have zero insight into the treatment of your son. and I am extremely sorry that this has happened and it sucks and I feel bad for you. i'd rather see his health protected than the alternative. nothing I am posting is meant as a criticism to you.

 

[bcubs9497]

I have zero insight into the treatment of your son. and I am extremely sorry that this has happened and it sucks and I feel bad for you. i'd rather see his health protected than the alternative. nothing I am posting is meant as a criticism to you.

I would be okay with him not playing anymore had the vascular surgeon and hematologist down here said it was too much of a risk. They didn't. That, coupled with SU discontinuing the Xarelto back in April, while the clot (according to med staff) was still present in whatever level of severity, gives me no confidence in SU medical staff.

 

[nralecuse]

Yeah, sums it up nicely.

Patients have the right to make any type of choice based on informed consent. We live with these varied choices every day in medicine.
You did just what we hope responsible patients/families will do; take ownership/responsibility for ones health and wellbeing.
You did that and are willing to live with the consequences of your actions, PROBLEM is the university is no longer willing to assume any real or perceived risk based on your informed decision/choice.
For what it is worth please know that I really do feel for you.
Collateral damage of our litigious society.

GO ORANGE !

 

[Shark58]

 

[bigmike]

Very sorry to have heard the bad news. I too really enjoyed watching Steven develop, and was looking forward to seeing him continue to grow.

In this case, based on what I have read on this board, I am surprised that there appears to be no appeal process or liability waiver concept - particularly when it seems the family has done equal or greater diligence on the matter, and based on that diligence seems comfortable with allowing Steven to continue to play.

 

[Toga]

Not sure we've ever the story on how the Dungey family persevered over the medical staff. Are there lessons there?

 

[nralecuse]

That's the thing. At that time, it didn't (from what they said), yet they did. Explain that.

bcubs,
No good explanation can be given without more info.
How many months had he already been on Xarelto at the time it was stopped?