Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen firmly anticipates the need for an offseason heart procedure, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick was among those to report on Twitter. It’ll be a repeat of the procedure he had in 2012 to deal with an irregular heartbeat.
Jansen, of course, missed time recently when he experienced a recurrence of the symptoms that led to his original procedure. Indications at the time were that an offseason surgery would again be necessary, though it was not clear until his comments today that it was all but certain to take place.
There has been no change to Jansen’s availability down the stretch and into the postseason (if the Dodgers qualify). After all, the issue was already known. And presumably the hope will remain that he’ll be ready for a full spring camp in 2019, though details remain unknown.
Of course, Jansen’s cardiac health will remain the top priority. It’s certainly scary to hear of the ongoing issues, though certainly it’s promising that he has been able to continue his career and encouraging to know that he’s being watched closely by experts.
Soon to turn 31, the outstanding right-hander has not been at his dominant best thus far in 2018. He struggled in particular for a stretch in late August after returning from his recent scare. But the veteran has righted the ship over his past several appearances and still owns a healthy 2.89 ERA, with 10.3 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9, over his 62 1/3 innings on the season.
That’s still quite productive, but it’s nothing close to the typical version of Jansen. To take but one example: he currently carries a 2.98 SIERA (the ERA estimator that looks most favorably on his 2018 output). That means that this season will break a remarkable seven-year streak in which Jansen posted SIERA marks of 1.88 or lower.
Whether Jansen can still deliver a vintage performance the rest of the way, and into the future, remains to be seen. He is under contract through 2020, with $56MM of earnings over the three seasons yet to come, so there’s plenty at stake for the Dodgers. Clearly, though, the most important thing is that Jansen remains healthy.
Stay away from caffeine both now and after surgery..
And Denver….
I’d had to imagine the experts have informed him of his limits.
Amen
What is the actual procedure he’s going to get (or that he got before)? It’s not mentioned here, nor is it in the link in the 2nd paragraph.
That may not be public info. Many times the specific surgery isn’t disclosed for sports injuries. The most common is tommy John, but other than that, I can’t think of many instances where the specific name of the surgery was announced
Was wondering that too. Either way my (pardon the pun) heart goes out to him. Sounds quite scary actually and I wish him the best.
It’s a catheter ablation. Electro-physiologist inserts a torch like device through the artery into the heart and performs a series of burns where the unwanted electrical impulses are emitting from. The theory is that once these burns heal they form a scar tissue which blocks the impulses from entering the heart. I have had 4 of these procedures done and finally had to undergo open heart surgery to stop the atrial fibrillation from happening. Jansen should look into that instead of continuing down the road of multiple ablations. Been there, done that.
Prayers for you both.
Could be this…
link to mayoclinic.org
That sounds terrifying. What does the healing feel like after this procedure?
Ablation probably for atrial fibrillation or Supra ventricular tachycardia SVT
Should just have the surgery now he is costing the Dodgers games
From GM’s now posters are doctors in this board. Love it
No…..he had the exact same surgery in 2012. On other sites it’s said that he will undergo the same surgery as 2012….
the ablation is a relatively easy recovery, the procedure itself is minimally invasive. The biggest thing is allowing the entry point into the major artery to heal properly but you are normally up and moving the next day. My guess is he would have to take at least a week or 10 days off if he had it done now. The open heart procedure is obviously more intense and it took weeks before I was feeling normal but the benefit was worth the pain…I have been almost Afib free for the past 5 + years now.
Evaluated for sleep apnea? I’m told it goes hand in hand with a-fib.