Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest: Here's what we know about what happened to the Buffalo Bills player
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been released from a medical center in Buffalo, nine days after his cardiac arrest on the field during Monday Night Football.
"We are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills," Dr. Jamie Nadler said in a statement released by the team.
Doctors in Cincinnati, where he was initially hospitalized, reported signs of progress in the days following his injury, saying on Jan. 5 that Hamlin was "beginning to awaken" and communicate in writing. The following day, the team shared that Hamlin's breathing tube had been removed and he was able to speak. On Monday, Jan. 9, he was discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to continue his care in his home city.
"We are thrilled and proud to share that Damar Hamlin has been released from the hospital and returned to Buffalo," said a statement attributed to UC Medical Center. "He is doing well and this is the next stage of his recovery."
The 24-year-old NFL player collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. He spent the days that followed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the hopsital.
Dr. Timothy Pritts of UC Health said Thursday it appeared Hamlin's "neurological function is intact," and that he'd marked "a turning point" in his care, but challenges still remain.
"We have significant concern about him after the event that happened on the field. He is making substantial progress," said Pritts.
The Buffalo Bills said in a statement earlier that day that the player has "shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours."
Hamlin's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, spoke to reporters outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Jan. 3 and said his nephew's heart stopped twice, once on the field and again at the hospital, CBS Chicago's Charlie De Mar reported. Glenn also said Hamlin had lung damage and needed a ventilator to help him breathe.
"His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress," the Bills said Jan. 5.
In an update on Jan. 6, the team said Hamlin's breathing tube had been removed overnight and he was able to speak to family and his care team. The Bills tweeted that Hamlin had joined a meeting of players and coaches via FaceTime and told his teammates, "Love you boys."
Damar Hamlin FaceTimed into our team meeting today to talk to players and coaches.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 6, 2023
What he said to the team: “Love you boys.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8dorrWNaxt
What happened in the Monday Night Football game?
With 5:58 to go in the game's first quarter, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was running the ball, hit Hamlin, a 24-year-old safety, in the chest with his helmet during a play. Hamlin dragged Higgins down to the ground. Hamlin stood up right after — but a few seconds later, collapsed.
Medical personnel attended to Hamlin for 19 minutes on the field, The Associated Press reported, and Hamlin received both CPR and required an automated external defibrillator. CBS Sports reported he was placed on a stretcher, then put in an ambulance, where he was given oxygen, to be taken to the hospital.
The remainder of the game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was postponed.
The Bills said Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest and his heartbeat was restored on the field, and he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He was sedated and listed in critical condition, the team said.
Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.
In an update Jan. 4, the team tweeted that Hamlin "remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight. He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him."
Fans rallied outside the hospital following Hamlin's injury, and donated millions of dollars to Hamlin's effort to buy Christmas toys for children from his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh.
What is "commotio cordis"?
While Hamlin's doctors said on Jan. 5 it was too early to say if he'd experienced "commotio cordis," as many have speculated, CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus said Hamlin may have suffered the rare condition, which is heart arrhythmia that occurs when someone takes a direct hit to their chest.
Agus said approximately 30 cases of commotio cordis occur in the U.S. every year, including among Little League players who get hit in the chest with a ball.
Describing the condition as "a confusion of the heart," where the heart muscle pumps erratically, Agus said the energy of the blow interferes with the electrical signals in the heart, creating a new beat known as ventricular fibrillation — a fast, erratic heartbeat that does not pump blood into the brain. When that happens, Agus said the heart needs to be shocked back into regular rhythm.
"That's why there are defibrillators on the sidelines of games, is to be able to use them to shock the best heart back into a regular rhythm," he said.
Agus said every minute blood flow is stopped to the brain increases the potential of severe consequences — including death.
"Every minute you wait is basically 10% increase likelihood of death — so the quicker you do it, the better," he said.
There is a question of whether Hamlin suffered any injury to his brain from his heart stopping. The faster they were able to get his heart started, Agus said, the more likely it is he will recover quickly.
"People who don't even know us are showing love and support and we're so thankful for that," Glenn, the player's uncle, said. "I know those prayers are helping because he's definitely recovering. ... God got a mission for him and that's why he's still here."
- In:
- Damar Hamlin
- Buffalo Bills
- Football
- NFL
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
