This morning, Tuesday, December 10, Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove underwent surgery at Careggi Hospital in Florence. During the procedure, doctors implanted a removable subcutaneous defibrillator, a necessary measure according to hospital protocol.
This facility was decided to allow the player to be discharged in the next few days, probably between Thursday and Saturday. Bove had been hospitalized since December 1st, the day he felt unwell during the first half of Fiorentina-Inter, a Serie A match in which he stopped in the 17th minute.
Once discharged from the hospital and all the results of the tests taken in recent days are available, Bove will be able to decide, in consultation with his doctors, whether to keep or remove the implanted defibrillator. According to doctors, the procedure to implant the subcutaneous device is not particularly complex, so much so that it is considered a "routine" procedure.
Cardiac surgeon Chiariello: "No to returning to the field."
Although the procedure is non-invasive, the issue remains delicate for the young footballer. Cardiac surgeon Luigi Chiariello, known for having operated on Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, commented on the situation, emphasizing that the use of a defibrillator is indicative of a serious health condition. "The defibrillator implant – explains Chiariello – It's necessary when a dangerous arrhythmia is detected, which could put the athlete's life at risk. If we're dealing with a case of dangerous arrhythmia, a return to the field for a young athlete like Bove, at least in the Italian championship, is not feasible."
According to the heart surgeon, in fact, playing football with an implanted cardiac defibrillator is not permitted, since the device, although lifesaving, cannot be put to the test with the type of physical stress that an athlete is called upon to face during a football match. "The subcutaneous defibrillator is designed to intervene in the event of arrhythmia, delivering an electric shock to restore the heartbeat to a normal rhythm. However, the risk of excessive physical stress during competitive activity does not justify a return to the field.", concluded Chiariello.
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Comments (1)
The surgery Bove underwent seems to be very serious and important for his health. Even if it is not complex, it is strange that he cannot return to play football. I hope everything goes well.