It’s a little after 0700 here, and Dr. Paige (one of Deb’s
surgeons) has just been in. More on that
in a moment.
Deb got some rest during the night, but not a lot of
consistent rest. That isn’t uncommon in
ICU, since the nurses come through to check you so often. In Deb’s case they have been in at least
every 30 minutes to check on her. Add to
that Deb’s general level of discomfort and the tendency of something or other
to alarm every once in a while (like the respiration sensor, which only senses
Deb’s breathing when her mouth is closed and she sometimes opens it a little
when she nods off) … Well, it doesn’t make for consistent rest. I may have slept for one straight hour at one
point, but Deb has only gotten to drift in and out mostly.
One of the surgical assistants came in at 0600 or so and
looked at the surgery site, noting that everything looked pretty good except
that one side is a little pinker than the other. Then Dr. Paige came in and took a look closer
to 0700.
While he thinks that there is good blood supply to both
sides, there is a little concern that blood may not be draining as well from the
right side - hence the little bit more pinkness. It might be something that will resolve itself
over the next several hours, but there is the possibility that they might need
to go back in on that side to make sure everything is doing what it is supposed
to do and work on a better vein connection if necessary. He is going to consult with the other surgeon,
Dr. Beshlian, before deciding whether to take that step or not. I expect to see Dr. Beshlian here within the
next 30 minutes or so (he’s currently with another patient prepping them for
surgery today).
Okay, so he just walked in.
He has taken a look and listened to her blood flow with the
ultrasound. I can’t really read him very
well, so I don’t know which way he is leaning.
He and Dr. Paige will go talk it over and come up with a plan for her
immediate care.
So definitely a bump in the road, but it remains to be seen
how large that bump might be. Go back
in? Wait and watch? Whatever the case, Deb will remain in ICU for
now and isn’t allowed food and water yet (she really really really wants
something to drink right now).
Not the news I wanted, but not the worst news we could
get. Simply stated, if the work on the
right side doesn’t ultimately hold up they will remove that part and go back in
later with an implant on that side. But
I definitely have my fingers crossed that everything goes well and I’d prefer
that it didn’t require any more surgery, but if it does, it does.
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