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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

MLB: Lowry to have surgery for circulatory problem


Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — San Francisco Giants left-hander Noah Lowry was scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday to remove the first rib on his left side, due to symptoms from thoracic outlet syndrome.

The surgery to correct the circulatory problem was to be performed by Dr. Greg Pearl, a vascular surgeon at the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.
The team said a prognosis for recovery won’t be determined until after surgery.
“We want Noah back on the mound,” manager Bruce Bochy said before Tuesday night’s series opening against the Padres. “This guy is a good pitcher, a good starter. That’s why our goal is, always will be, to get Noah back on the mound. That’s never going to change.”
Lowry’s agent, Damon Lapa, told ESPN.com that the Giants’ medical staff misdiagnosed a forearm injury 14 months ago, subjecting Lowry to an unnecessary arm operation and turning a potential short-term recovery into a lengthy medical ordeal.
Lapa said Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Greg Pearl confirmed the diagnosis in separate consultations with Lowry last week. Lapa said the circulatory issue was the source of Lowry’s forearm tightness in August 2007 and a mysterious control meltdown in spring training of 2008, but that the Giants’ medical staff failed to identify the problem.
“Quite honestly, there’s a sense of relief. Dr. Andrews and Dr. Pearl have been able to provide answers that the Giants have not been able to provide since Noah got hurt in the fall of 2007,” Lapa told ESPN.com. “The two doctors have confirmed the condition and let us know that it’s existed since 2007 and essentially been misdiagnosed.”
Lapa did not return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
The Giants denied Lapa’s claim.
“The Giants organization and its medical staff have always treated Noah Lowry’s condition appropriately and with the utmost care,” the team said in a statement. “We have never performed any medically inappropriate procedures on Mr. Lowry.
“Per Major League Baseball’s labor agreement and federal laws regarding medical privacy, the Giants are prohibited from discussing specific medical information publicly. However, we can state that Mr. Lapa’s accusations against our organization are factually inaccurate, intentionally misleading and irresponsible.”
Lowry, 28, has a career 40-31 record with a 4.03 ERA. He led the Giants with 13 victories in 2005 and again with 14 in 2007.