So Brandt had his catheter yesterday...he was first case, thankfully, so he wasn't effected too badly by the NPO (no food) order, as he generally goes all night without anyway! They got him in at about eight, and he was back around eleven, still pretty knocked out from the anesthesia. The results are basically as expected: his shunt still looks great, the PA's look fine, his lungs are perfect...he's just out growing his shunt!
The tentative plan was to send him over to the OR that afternoon, but after talking it over with the surgeon again, they decided to let him wait out his cold a little more before putting his body through that kind of trauma. The surgery will cause quite a bit of pressure in his chest cavity, in large part because he has to go on a heart/lung bypass, and those circumstances can really exacerbate any prior condition...like a cold that's mostly gone.
His sats have been trending downward ever since we got here. Nothing really dangerous, but enough to keep the nurses and doctors checking in on him constantly. His baseline is generally around 75-85 (I think I've mentioned that before, right?), and lately it's been drifting into the 60's with surprising regularity. Yesterday, after he came back from the cath lab, he was holding steady there, with an occasional dip into the 50's, and his heart rate was a lot lower: 80-100 instead of his usual 120-140. I called attention to it, and he was checked out by three or four people who all determined that it was caused by the anesthesia wearing off. During the night and into this morning, however, the only thing that had changed was that his resting heart rate had jumped quite a bit, and was now above average and hanging out there. So they're currently keeping an eye on that, but figuring it also relates to outgrowing the shunt, and he's on a low flow of oxygen via canula. He's not happy about the latter, and I can't say I blame him. I don't like it when people stick things up my nose either!
Rounds have just finished up, and the most recent news now is that they're going to drag their feet, approaching surgery, so it'll probably happen some time next week. Not sure if it'll be earlier or later in the week. In the meantime, Brandt's sats are at a point where they don't feel comfortable releasing us temporarily. They'd like him to be able to hold above 70 without supplemental oxygen, but given his trend this past week, I don't see that happening any time soon. So that means we get to hang tight and be bored for a week or so. Such is life. I'm just glad this all happened before he got mobile. I can't imagine trying to keep a crawling child occupied for days on end when their movement is essentially limited to a 3x3 foot space.
As for me, I'm doing pretty well! This trip has been a lot easier than the first, partially because I haven't just given birth, and partially because I know the ins and outs of hospital life already. I do have to admit to going a little stir-crazy, though. I have made the mile-long walk to the mall a couple times, but there are times that I have gone 48 hours or more without setting foot outside. Thankfully, Tanner will be here this evening, and with him, our car, so I can maybe get out and about a little more. Out and about can be dangerous, though, what with the sheer quantity of frozen yogurt places in the immediate vicinity!
The tentative plan was to send him over to the OR that afternoon, but after talking it over with the surgeon again, they decided to let him wait out his cold a little more before putting his body through that kind of trauma. The surgery will cause quite a bit of pressure in his chest cavity, in large part because he has to go on a heart/lung bypass, and those circumstances can really exacerbate any prior condition...like a cold that's mostly gone.
His sats have been trending downward ever since we got here. Nothing really dangerous, but enough to keep the nurses and doctors checking in on him constantly. His baseline is generally around 75-85 (I think I've mentioned that before, right?), and lately it's been drifting into the 60's with surprising regularity. Yesterday, after he came back from the cath lab, he was holding steady there, with an occasional dip into the 50's, and his heart rate was a lot lower: 80-100 instead of his usual 120-140. I called attention to it, and he was checked out by three or four people who all determined that it was caused by the anesthesia wearing off. During the night and into this morning, however, the only thing that had changed was that his resting heart rate had jumped quite a bit, and was now above average and hanging out there. So they're currently keeping an eye on that, but figuring it also relates to outgrowing the shunt, and he's on a low flow of oxygen via canula. He's not happy about the latter, and I can't say I blame him. I don't like it when people stick things up my nose either!
Rounds have just finished up, and the most recent news now is that they're going to drag their feet, approaching surgery, so it'll probably happen some time next week. Not sure if it'll be earlier or later in the week. In the meantime, Brandt's sats are at a point where they don't feel comfortable releasing us temporarily. They'd like him to be able to hold above 70 without supplemental oxygen, but given his trend this past week, I don't see that happening any time soon. So that means we get to hang tight and be bored for a week or so. Such is life. I'm just glad this all happened before he got mobile. I can't imagine trying to keep a crawling child occupied for days on end when their movement is essentially limited to a 3x3 foot space.
As for me, I'm doing pretty well! This trip has been a lot easier than the first, partially because I haven't just given birth, and partially because I know the ins and outs of hospital life already. I do have to admit to going a little stir-crazy, though. I have made the mile-long walk to the mall a couple times, but there are times that I have gone 48 hours or more without setting foot outside. Thankfully, Tanner will be here this evening, and with him, our car, so I can maybe get out and about a little more. Out and about can be dangerous, though, what with the sheer quantity of frozen yogurt places in the immediate vicinity!
Thoughts and prayers going your way often! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well for you and your little son, Kara.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you again often, since I heard you are back in Seattle.
ReplyDelete