Update #2

Rebekah is doing very well.  She has had sedated x-rays, an angiogram and at present the doctors are taking pressures in a collateral.  When we spoke with Dr. Baker this morning, he was a little undecided about what the exact course of the catheterization would be today.  Dr. Lucas (Rebekah's cardiologist in Greenville) has reason to suspect, based on Rebekah's echos, that there may be one or more collateral arteries feeding blood to her right lung.  A couple of years ago, that is exactly what we wanted!  In fact, we would love to hear that Rebekah has a couple of great big collaterals that can be used to make a right pulmonary artery.  However, the few collaterals that she had (prior to the procedure today) have been small and in very difficult locations.  They were not at all suitable for creating a pulmonary artery.

So the plan for today is to scope out any and all collaterals to assess whether or not any of them could work for a right pulmonary artery.  It is likely that Dr. Baker will simply take measurements and pressures of those collaterals today and will confer with Dr. Bradley (surgeon) to see if they can be used for a right PA.  If they can be used, Rebekah will at some point in the future have another open heart surgery to tie those collaterals together to form a pulmonary artery.  If they cannot be used because of size or location or complexity, we will probably be coming back in 3-6 months for another cath to coil off the unsuitable collaterals.  Dr. Baker apologized for the potential of another cath so soon, but we would rather that he is cautious before irreparably closing off any collaterals that might be used in the future to allow Rebekah's lung to function.

Another purpose of this cath is to check for any stenosis (narrowing) around Rebekah's conduit that might be ballooned open or have a stent inserted.  This would keep those arteries open and allow blood to flow freely, with less pressure.  Dr. Baker is also going to measure pressures in both ventricles of Rebekah's heart and in her pulmonary artery and left lung.  All of the doctors involved want a very detailed, clear picture of what is going on inside Rebekah's heart before they make any changes to her medications or oxygen.

So, I would guess that Rebekah will be out of the cath lab sometime between 1 and 2.  Then we will be in recovery for a few hours until she is either admitted to the floor or discharged.  If they do any kind of balloon/stent/coil procedure during the cath lab, we will be admitted for observation overnight.

Thank you for praying, and please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors and safety for Rebekah!

Nancy