Hanson trio's Isaac undergoes surgery

BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Friday, October 05, 2007

Isaac Hanson underwent life-saving surgery in a Dallas hospital Thursday for a pulmonary embolism -- a blood clot that traveled to a lung -- his publicist said.

The 26-year-old guitarist for the band Hanson was taken to Baylor University Medical Center early Wednesday after a Tuesday performance at the Dallas House of Blues. The show was part of the three Tulsa brothers' band's nationwide "The Walk" tour.

He was complaining of severe chest and shoulder pain, Hanson publicist Ken Phillips said.

Wednesday afternoon, in an exclusive interview with the Tulsa World, Zac Hanson said a blood clot had lodged in his brother's arm.

"This isn't the first time this has happened," he said. "Both times, he realized what was happening. He caught it early. . . . He'll be fine."

Phillips released a statement Thursday evening, saying Isaac Hanson's surgery was for a form of pulmonary embolism known as venous thoracic outlet syndrome -- or "Paget-Schroeder syndrome."

The disease normally affects athletes whose upper-body muscle development constricts the arteries from the heart and causes potentially fatal blood clots in the lungs, he said.

Isaac Hanson's surgeon, Dr. Bradley Grimsley, expects him to make a full and swift recovery, Phillips said.

He is expected to be released from the hospital Friday, and the band will resume touring on Monday in Knoxville, Tenn., he said.

At a public walk led by the trio's two younger brothers Wednesday in Tulsa to raise awareness of AIDS and poverty in Africa, Taylor Hanson described blood clots as an "occupational hazard" of being on the road.

Zac Hanson noted that "a pulmonary embolism can kill you. . . . We're in a holding pattern until Isaac is better."

The band's agents and promoters are working on rescheduling the canceled tour dates in Tulsa, St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., and Phillips said announcements regarding possible make-up dates will be made as soon as possible.

Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

RECOVERING
Isaac Hanson: The 26-year-old guitarist for the band Hanson is expected to make a full and swift recovery and is expected to be released from a Dallas hospital Friday.