Ashlyn has been slightly deteriorating over the last 3 days, with her oxygen requirements going slightly up, fluid issues going up, and overall health going down. Not good.
He was calling this morning to tell us the plan. SURGERY. TODAY.
He said they want to move forward with the PDA ligation surgery. He termed it as "our hands are pretty much tied, and were running out of options."
On one hand, we know this surgery is a 20 minute surgery, and the medical side of it is not that complicated. You go in, tie off the duct, and get out.
On the other hand, the risks are all over the map. Ashlyn will need to be re-intubated, put back on pain medication, and is having heart surgery at age 3.5 weeks of life. Ugh.
The other risks of this surgery shake out like this:
- Major surgery risks
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Vocal Chord paralysis-Doesn't mean she wont be able to talk, but may have a raspy voice
- 5-10% chance...maybe higher.
- Neurodevelopmental issues
- Some correlation between PDA surgery and longer term developmental problems
- Doctors don't really know why
- Say that putting small babies under anesthesia might be a contributing factor
- They also say that closing the PDA results in a radical hemodynanmic change in the body-resulting in much more blood flow, a "push" of blood if you will. This "push" can be a contributing factor to longer term problems as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOj6K_BoIAc
Even better, I have come down with a strep throat-That's twice in 3 months. If my little niece wasn't so cute I would hold it against her.
The bad part is that this will prevent me from going to the hospital to be there for my little girl. They wont let me in the NICU being sick, so I'm not going to be there today. Sara is there now.
So, here we go.....Please send thoughts and prayers. the next 48-72 hours are going to be critical once again.
Will be saying extra big prayers today for sweet little Ashlyn. Hoping for the best possible outcome. She is in good hands. Thinking of all of you! So sorry about the strep and that you won't be able to be at the hospital Cary.. xxxxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo Everything's gonna be OK. KATE
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate ! She is stable now. It is really amazing what th poor little tike has been through and she is still fighting! I am proud of her.. But its definitely been a rough few days. Thanks so much for all the love and support! It means a lot to our family.
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