Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has just survived a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that would have been fatal if not immediately treated. In a game in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces, Mitchell collapsed suddenly to the ground, immediately concerning teammates, coaches, medical staff and everybody else on the court.
What initially seemed to be a minor injury soon revealed just how serious it was. Mitchell felt a temporary paralysis, which she described later as an “out-of-body experience.” Initially, there were fears that she had cramps, but the diagnosis ended up being far more serious.
The diagnosis: Rhabdomyolysis
Medical testing revealed that Mitchell suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle is demolished and proteins leak into the bloodsteam. According to sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer, the proteins are poisonous to kidneys and, left untreated, can cause kidney failure and death.
“Prompt medical intervention was critical,” Dr. Sutterer said, in order to highlight the importance of the medical staff quick response.
An immediate intervention
Mitchell was quickly given intravenous fluids to purify the toxic proteins out of her system and keep her kidneys correctly. The fast response of both the Fever and Aces medical staff prevented irreversible damage.
She has now been released from hospital and is recovering under strict medical care. Although she is likely to participate in future competitions with the Fever, her appearance at the WNBA Finals was suspended so her kidneys could recover completely and correclty.
The elite competitions are representative of the physical stress that is put on professional players and the need to recognize genuine medical conditions before they become worse.
A situation that will serve as a precedent
Rhabdomyolysis, though rare, is a fatal condition from which even elite professionals can fall victim of. Mitchell’s case is a wake-up call for performers, trainers, and medical staff. The importance of caution and prevention are the prescription for avoiding deadly consequences.
“This could have ended much worse,” Dr. Sutterer said. “Thanks to the swift response, Kelsey avoided a potentially fatal situation.”
For now, we still have to wait to see her back on the courts, but she is fortunate that her recovery will only be a matter of months. As soon as se is available again, she will be ready for everything, as resilience, strength and competitiveness are the main values on her own brand-stryle.
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