McNamara’s Health Improving

The vascular surgeon treating John McNamara said Saturday the threat to the Angel manager’s life “has diminished dramatically,” but there was significant cause for concern Wednesday, when a blood clot was found in McNamara’s right calf.

Dr. Alvin Benvenisty of New York’s Columbia Presbyterian Hospital said several other clots were discovered--one between McNamara’s knee and thigh--and were moving toward his lungs, where they could have caused considerable damage.

“When he came in there was about an 8% risk [the clots would be life-threatening],” said Benvenisty, who earlier this season removed an aneurysm from New York Yankee pitcher David Cone’s right arm. “But if I was going on a car ride and knew there was an 8% chance of not coming back, I wouldn’t go.”

Benvenisty said such clots can be dangerous if not detected in time, “but we caught his in time,” he said. “We’ll have to see how he is once he gets up and around, but most people do very well with these.”

McNamara, who has been taking blood-thinning medication, both intravenously and orally, “is doing great,” Benvenisty said. But it may be another week or two before doctors can determine if McNamara can resume managing the Angels.

“It’s hard to say at this point,” Benvenisty said. “He’s going to walk [Saturday] for the first time. The swelling has gone down a lot, but that can come back when he starts walking. He’s really day-to-day.”

McNamara, who received a surprise visit from Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver on Friday and a large bouquet of flowers from Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, will probably travel later this week to Anaheim and be placed under the care of Dr. Lewis Yocum, Angel physician.

“Everything seems to be going normally,” McNamara said. “Those other clots have disappeared. I felt stiff [Saturday] but I was able to walk OK.”

Doctors haven’t pinpointed the exact cause of the clots, but Benvenisty said they could be related to an injury McNamara, 64, may have incurred years ago as a player.

“You can get a blood clot and not even know it,” Benvenisty said. “You think it’s a muscle injury or something, and later in life you’re more susceptible to a clot. That’s a possible explanation.

“They’re also common in people who take a lot of long plane trips. Clots can form if you’re sitting for long periods of time. It’s very common for people to have these things and not even know it.”