Although Henry looks great and is eating well his oxygen levels continue to run low. On Sunday he was moved back to the cardiac ICU. The doctors are preparing us for another surgery to increase the blood flow to his lungs. Today they will place a catheter in his pulmonary artery to check blood pressures. If their assumptions are confirmed he will go to surgery in the next couple of days.
To increase the blood flow to the lungs the doctors can loosen a band that was placed around the pulmonary artery during the first surgery. Another option is to introduce a shunt to divert some blood flow from the body to the lungs. The surgery is not nearly as risky or invasive as the first surgery. They would need to open the chest again but it should not be necessary to stop the heart or put him on bypass. Since they will not be operating on the heart itself they should be able to close the chest during the operation and his recovery time should be shorter.
Thank you for keeping Henry in your thoughts and prayers.
Steve.
3 comments:
Do you need a blood donation? I am 0+ and could get up there on Thursday, late afternoon to donate. I have also donated platelets at CHLA if you need them. Please call at 949-364-2569 if need a WILLING and able donor. We pray for you guys everyday! Marni Lombardo
The kids and I are constantly thinking about you guys. I am also hoping that we can get stationed back in Cali sometime soon. The kids talk about baby Henry all of the time. Thank you so much for all of the updates. Grandma has been updating me as well. I actually have been talking to her every other day it seems. We are sending our love to you from the other side of the country...Autumn
Thanks Marni, Henry is likely to need a blood tranfusion tomorrow but the hospital is all set. I plan to donate blood as well. Thanks very much for your offer. Steve and Shanna.
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