Baskett Family: October 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Pre-op

The pre-op today went smoothly. They took x-rays of Matt's chest, blood work and a physical. The tech got the blood drawn first poke with no digging! Yah! Matt was a trooper.

Oct. 24th The Delay

Matt's surgery has been cancelled due to indecisive surgerns and doctors. On the way to the hospital today to do pre-op, the surgen, Dr. Kouretas called and asked that I meet with him. At the meeting he said that they would like to stent Matt's pulmonary artery on the left side that is narrowing down too about 1-2 mm (the size of spaghetti) and hold off on the surgery till after the stent is put in. (about 6-8 weeks). Originally, we were told by Dr. Day (cardiologist) that they would patch that area or use a conduit and go around that area. Dr. Kouretas said that the area to the pulomanary artery is covered in scar tissue (due to the previous surgerys) and in a hard to reach place right next to the lung. It would be too difficult to patch in surgery and that is why the stent is necessary. So when I left the meeting I was told to expect a call from the cath lab in the next day or two to set the appointment for the stent.
On the way out of the hospital I stopped in and left a message with Dr. Day to get his view point on postponing the surgery.

A call, a couple of hours later, from Dr. Day left us further frustrated. The Cardiologist team consist of all cardiologists and the two heart surgens. All of them met earlier this morning to discuss Matt's surgery tomarrow and the goals except Dr. Kouretas. Dr. Kouretas was unable to make it due to him being ill. He came in later in the day. The Cardiologist team decided, without Dr. Kouretas, that the surgery should take place tomarrow, as planned. The narrowed pulmonary artery would be expanded via patch either in an insion through the back of Matt's chest or later in the cath lab with a stent. Dr. Day did not know that Dr. Kouretas had cancelled the surgery until my note. Frustrating that they can't seem to get a clear plan.
To further complicate the matter, the stent doctors do not want to do a stent. Matt is too small and the largest stent that can be safely put in is 4mm....too small to do a great deal of good. SOOOOOO Dr. Day said that he would hopefully get all parties together and re-hash out the game plan...next Wed at the latest. Until then, we are sitting tight. They could call us anytime and say "come in we are doing all three things in surgery tomarrow" or we can be waiting till the cath doctors or surgens make up their minds.
Matt will need a blood transfusion due to a low red blood cell count in the next week.

October Post Cath-Lab

Matt's surgery is needed to accomplish three goals. The first: to give adaquet blood flow to the left lung. Currently, the pulmonary artery narrows to about 1-2mm right before the branches go into the lung.
The second: to close the large hole (VSD) in his heart between the right and left sides. The blood is being pumped through his body without going through the lungs to oxygnated the blood. The third: to place a pulmonary valve in between the heart and the pulmonary arteries so that back flow from the lungs will be minimized.
Currently, Matt's oxygen saturation is in the low 70s.

Baskett Family

Happy Halloween

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Pre-op

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

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Day 4

Day 3

Day 3

Day 2

Oct. 30 Surgery is on!

Oct 26th No news

Oct. 24th The Delay

October Post Cath-Lab

Matts heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot w/ Pulmonary Atresia and Maps

Matt's Cardiologist Dr. Day

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