The longest part of the entire procedure was trying to gain IV access so the radiologist could inject the dye needed for the contrast during the CT scan. It took a little over an hour and five sticks before the surgeon's assistant finally was able to access a vein in Rebekah's wrist. What an ordeal! The nurse had given Rebekah a little Versed to calm her before we started, and by the time we finished it had long since worn off. She was also given sedation through her IV before the CT scan was started so that she would be still, so she slept right through the scan and the ultrasound a little later.
The good news is that the radiologist was able to get all of the information that the surgeon needed to make a decision about Rebekah's next heart surgery. The bad news is that the information was exactly what we had been told to expect - no usable collaterals. Rebekah does have some collateral arteries, but they are very, very tiny and not something the surgeon would be able to do anything with. We haven't heard the official word from the surgeon, but based on what our cardiologist shared at Rebekah's last visit, we are pretty sure that the surgeon will be postponing Rebekah's heart repair indefinitely. The two deciding factors for heart surgery will be 1) Rebekah begins to outgrow (in size) the band on her left pulmonary artery and her oxygen sats get progressively lower, or 2) Rebekah begins to show signs of heart failure at which point surgery will become necessary. Until either of those scenarios occurs, we are pretty sure that Rebekah's surgeon will not schedule surgery. At this point, it could be many months before she would need surgery.
The ultrasound of Rebekah's leg/groin area was as we expected. The doctors wanted a good look at the fistula in Rebekah's left leg as well as information about accessibility in both legs for another potential catheterization in the future. The technician performing the ultrasound did not say much, but I did see the fistula still there (although it no longer affects her circulation in that leg). I have no idea what kind of narrowing she saw in the arteries that may or may not affect further catheterizations. I imagine we'll hear from Rebekah's cardiologist later if they found anything significant.
That's about the extent of our trip to Charleston. We are very thankful that it went well and grateful for all of your prayers. We are not planning on church tomorrow as all of us are still sniffing, coughing and have sore throats. No need to spread that around! Please pray that we can get over these colds and that Rebekah does not come down with it!
Nancy
