USC freshman Bronny James suffered cardiac arrest during practice Monday, a family spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic in a statement Tuesday. James, the 18-year-old son of Lakers star LeBron James, collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He was in stable condition and no longer in the intensive care unit as of Tuesday morning.
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James’ medical emergency comes after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals in January. Hamlin experienced commotio cordis, where blunt trauma to the chest occurs during a very specific period in the cardiac electrical cycle, leading to cardiac arrest.
Last July, USC’s Vince Iwuchukwu suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during an informal practice and was hospitalized for a few days. In December 2020, former Florida basketball forward Keyontae Johnson collapsed minutes after tipoff in a game against Florida State. He missed nearly two full seasons and was later diagnosed with “athlete’s heart” — an increase in cardiac mass because of systemic training. Johnson returned to the court last season after transferring to Kansas State and was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft in June.
It’s not immediately clear what caused James’ cardiac arrest.
Here’s what we know about the condition, its frequency in young people and the typical medical response that follows:
What is cardiac arrest?
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. When this occurs, blood doesn’t flow to the brain or other important organs.
During cardiac arrest, the heart gets out of rhythm and suddenly stops beating. The person no longer has a pulse, stops breathing and becomes unconscious.
Unlike a heart attack, cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical disturbance that disrupts how the heart pumps blood throughout the body, ultimately stopping blood flow. There is not a blockage to the heart.
Is it common in young athletes?
While sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes, it’s still a rare occurrence, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website. Some reports suggest that about one in 50,000 to one in 80,000 young athletes die of sudden cardiac death each year, the website says, noting that estimates vary. In the general population, the rate of cardiac arrest is about 1 in 1,000 people, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium investigators, from June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, there were 320,200 annual cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests among adults. In children ages 12 to 19, the number of annual cases was 6,300.
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Why is a quick response so crucial?
It can be the difference between life and death. When the heart stops pumping blood throughout the rest of the body, the brain doesn’t receive oxygen. Within four to six minutes there can be significant brain damage, so every second counts.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 90 percent of the more than 356,000 cardiac arrests each year in the U.S. are fatal.
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When is CPR and AED used in these situations?
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and an AED (automated external defibrillator) are needed when the heart stops beating. The combination of these two things can be life-saving if administered quickly when a person experiences sudden cardiac arrest.
What tests does someone go through after suffering cardiac arrest?
The person will go through a wide range of tests on all organs, but the heart and brain are typically the most important and most urgent. This will include chest X-rays, an echocardiogram and brain scans to check blood flow to the brain.
What is the NCAA’s protocol regarding cardiac arrest?
Per the NCAA rulebook, an institutional staff member with current certification in first aid, CPR and AED use must be present any time a student-athlete participates in a physical, countable athletically related activity.
What are California’s AED laws?
A 2018 amendment of the California Education Code requires the presence of at least one AED in all public and charter schools that have inter-school athletic programs. There is also a recommendation that trainers and coaches at athletic events are trained adequately to handle SCA emergencies.
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)