Here we are. Another step closer to going home! Hank had his pacemaker replacement and ventricular lead placement surgery on Wednesday the 29th of April. We are hoping the new ventricular lead is a success in helping to remodel and heal his sick heart.
Dr. Burch thought the surgery went very well. He made an incision on his left side between his ribs and through his back muscle to reach his left ventricle. He worked with the electrophysiologist Dr. Saarel and the St. Jude's rep to find a perfect place to put the lead on the ventricle. Then he put the lead down underneath his ribs to reach his pacemaker in his left lower quadrant of his abdomen. So, we switched out the Boston Scientific Pacemaker for another St. Jude's pacemaker that is able to do bi-ventricular pacing. Dr. Saarel said she was confident with the bivent as his QRS narrowed on his EKG which a positive for his heart failure. We will keep our fingers crossed.
When Hank came back to the ICU after surgery, he worried everyone just a bit. His extremities were so cold but he was sweating so so much. His hair was soaked for a few hours. They were worried his heart was working too hard. He also didn't want to be extubated and had his ET tube in still. Everyone was relieved when his lactic acid came back below a 2, which was a good indicator that his heart wasn't working too hard (when he was initially admitted, his lactic was 9.1). They did an echo and it seems that his heart was squeezing better than before. HE had his tube pulled that night and was on room air by Thursday morning.
Thursday, we got transferred back to the step-down unit. Hank was eating and waking up. Yay. So now, we are just working on pain control, appetite, and walking. I'm hoping we will be going home by Sunday, but we will see!
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Dr. Burch thought the surgery went very well. He made an incision on his left side between his ribs and through his back muscle to reach his left ventricle. He worked with the electrophysiologist Dr. Saarel and the St. Jude's rep to find a perfect place to put the lead on the ventricle. Then he put the lead down underneath his ribs to reach his pacemaker in his left lower quadrant of his abdomen. So, we switched out the Boston Scientific Pacemaker for another St. Jude's pacemaker that is able to do bi-ventricular pacing. Dr. Saarel said she was confident with the bivent as his QRS narrowed on his EKG which a positive for his heart failure. We will keep our fingers crossed.
When Hank came back to the ICU after surgery, he worried everyone just a bit. His extremities were so cold but he was sweating so so much. His hair was soaked for a few hours. They were worried his heart was working too hard. He also didn't want to be extubated and had his ET tube in still. Everyone was relieved when his lactic acid came back below a 2, which was a good indicator that his heart wasn't working too hard (when he was initially admitted, his lactic was 9.1). They did an echo and it seems that his heart was squeezing better than before. HE had his tube pulled that night and was on room air by Thursday morning.
Thursday, we got transferred back to the step-down unit. Hank was eating and waking up. Yay. So now, we are just working on pain control, appetite, and walking. I'm hoping we will be going home by Sunday, but we will see!
Updates during surgery
Hank's 2nd heart machine
Immediately Post-op. Not feeling that great and yes, he is having a bad hair day!
Ventilator
Syringe pumps. Had dopamine, epinephrine, milrinone, and ceftazidime.
Right when we came back from the surgery, the family life specialist, Jenn brought these Wiggle toys for Hank. She said she was amazed to find them in the donation box just the day before and immediately pulled them out for Hank. If anybody knows Hank, they know these are perfect for him. Some inspired person donated these for just the right kid!
Just extubated and trying to find his voice.
Hank and Daddy sleeping through the pain. Hank definitely has moments of intense pain. Pain management with his type of incision can sometimes be difficult as they go through the muscles and nerves in the back. We are working through it with scheduled tylenol and occasional oxycodone doses.
The bigger the appetite, the better. When Hank was really sick, he wouldn't eat at all. This is one way we know his heart isn't having to work too hard. Hooray!
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