the one article said he had plasmapheresis the day before. googling:
Plasmapheresis is a process in which the fluid part of the blood, called plasma, is removed from blood cells by a device known as a cell separator. The separator works either by spinning the blood at high speed to separate the cells from the fluid or by passing the blood through a membrane with pores so small that only the fluid part of the blood can pass through. The cells are returned to the person undergoing treatment, while the plasma, which contains the antibodies, is discarded and replaced with other fluids. Medication to keep the blood from clotting (an anticoagulant) is given through a vein during the procedure.
if they had screwed that up, he could have had too high of a red blood count, would could cause a heart attack, or a blood clot, which certainly could cause a heart attack (or a stroke)
