Things went very well with the angiogram. Since they could only use about 10 percent of the dye that they would normally like, they couldn't see all of the arteries that were shunting to the vein, but Dr. Cloft said he found three very large ones and was able to address those. He suspects those three could account for 50 percent of the excess blood flow, so we're hoping to see Garrett improving over the next couple of days. His "numbers" (whatever numbers they're watching) are already looking much better. They even measured his head circumference before and after the surgery, and it was reduced a whole centimeter, which means the pressure from the extra blood flow has come down a lot already.
Dr. Cloft had wanted to go through the umbilical cord, versus the leg for the angiogram, but that ultimately didn't work. He said once they were in through the leg, though, it was pretty easy to get up to the brain. He sounded awfully stressed when he talked to us following the angiogram. It seemed like nothing but good news, but I'm sure it takes a lot out of a person to have to do such delicate, critical work on such a little baby.
When I asked whether they ran into trouble with any of the risky stuff they were worried about, he said they got through it all right, and added that he doesn't like to worry parents ahead of time by explaining too much about what the risks are with ruptured arteries. He didn't know we had already heard enough to be plenty worried.
So the super-scary part with the angiogram is over. If things improve enough over the next couple of days, they'll wean him from the ventilator and work toward sending him home. Then when he gets bigger (six months, maybe?) they can do the same thing with much less risk and hopefully address the remaining arteries.
We very much appreciate everyone's continued thoughts and prayers during this time.
Dr. Cloft had wanted to go through the umbilical cord, versus the leg for the angiogram, but that ultimately didn't work. He said once they were in through the leg, though, it was pretty easy to get up to the brain. He sounded awfully stressed when he talked to us following the angiogram. It seemed like nothing but good news, but I'm sure it takes a lot out of a person to have to do such delicate, critical work on such a little baby.
When I asked whether they ran into trouble with any of the risky stuff they were worried about, he said they got through it all right, and added that he doesn't like to worry parents ahead of time by explaining too much about what the risks are with ruptured arteries. He didn't know we had already heard enough to be plenty worried.
So the super-scary part with the angiogram is over. If things improve enough over the next couple of days, they'll wean him from the ventilator and work toward sending him home. Then when he gets bigger (six months, maybe?) they can do the same thing with much less risk and hopefully address the remaining arteries.
We very much appreciate everyone's continued thoughts and prayers during this time.
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