A big day tomorrow
Tomorrow is Teddy's procedure. Here are some frequently asked questions, laid out with answers.
1. What time is the procedure?
Technically, something like 8 in the morning, but we have to be there at 6:15 to get Teddy prepped.
2. How long is this going to take?
As long as it needs to, but probably something like 2 to 3 hours.
3. What, exactly, are they doing?
It's an angioplasty. They're going to snake some little, tiny balloons up Teddy's femoral artery and then inflate them in the aortic valve. This should stretch it out and reduce the stenosis (i.e., make the valve big enough to allow more blood to flow through it). This will have the effect of increasing leaking at the valve, but the heart tolerates leaks pretty well, it turns out. It doesn't tolerate not being able to push past the valve as well. While they're in there, they'll take a bunch of pictures. The next morning, they'll do another echo and check to see if it looks better as a final gate to figure out how beneficial it was.
4. How long will Teddy be in the hospital?
He'll be in overnight. This could be an outpatient procedure, really, but they want to check the valve again in the morning to make sure it's still good.
5. Who is doing this procedure?
The Cath Lab at Children's. Dr. Galantowicz will not be doing the procedure itself. However, he will be evaluating the pictures and making sure that the valve looks good. Teddy's cardiologist, Dr. Stiver, will also be evaluating.
6. What does this do, really?
Best case scenario, this pushes his next open heart surgery out for maybe 12 months. Maybe 6. Worst case, it doesn't really help much, and we end up scheduling him for surgery in the next few weeks.
7. Can you do anything to help?
Probably not? I mean, if you're a world renowned pediatric cardiologist/cardiovascular surgeon then maybe. But we're only going to be there overnight. Amy's probably sleeping there. I am probably coming home to feed the cat (and to sleep because I can't sleep at the hospital - in the entire time Teddy's been alive, I have never been able to catch more than about an hour of sleep in the hospital with him).
1. What time is the procedure?
Technically, something like 8 in the morning, but we have to be there at 6:15 to get Teddy prepped.
2. How long is this going to take?
As long as it needs to, but probably something like 2 to 3 hours.
3. What, exactly, are they doing?
It's an angioplasty. They're going to snake some little, tiny balloons up Teddy's femoral artery and then inflate them in the aortic valve. This should stretch it out and reduce the stenosis (i.e., make the valve big enough to allow more blood to flow through it). This will have the effect of increasing leaking at the valve, but the heart tolerates leaks pretty well, it turns out. It doesn't tolerate not being able to push past the valve as well. While they're in there, they'll take a bunch of pictures. The next morning, they'll do another echo and check to see if it looks better as a final gate to figure out how beneficial it was.
4. How long will Teddy be in the hospital?
He'll be in overnight. This could be an outpatient procedure, really, but they want to check the valve again in the morning to make sure it's still good.
5. Who is doing this procedure?
The Cath Lab at Children's. Dr. Galantowicz will not be doing the procedure itself. However, he will be evaluating the pictures and making sure that the valve looks good. Teddy's cardiologist, Dr. Stiver, will also be evaluating.
6. What does this do, really?
Best case scenario, this pushes his next open heart surgery out for maybe 12 months. Maybe 6. Worst case, it doesn't really help much, and we end up scheduling him for surgery in the next few weeks.
7. Can you do anything to help?
Probably not? I mean, if you're a world renowned pediatric cardiologist/cardiovascular surgeon then maybe. But we're only going to be there overnight. Amy's probably sleeping there. I am probably coming home to feed the cat (and to sleep because I can't sleep at the hospital - in the entire time Teddy's been alive, I have never been able to catch more than about an hour of sleep in the hospital with him).
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