Sabrina's Hospital Adventure!

A lot has happened in the past few weeks.  The most major one being Sabrina having heart surgery.  About 3 weeks ago Sabrina got a cold and her breathing became very prominent.  We took her to the doctor while in Idaho, diagnosis Croup, she was given a shot of steroids.  Four days later no improvement we brought her back to the doctor.  She had an ear infection and still noisy breathing so she got antibiotics and more steroids.  When we got back to Mississippi she felt better, but her breathing was still labored.  The doctor tried nebulizer treatments and more steroids, but those did nothing.  So we got checked into the hospital to try to discover the problem.  

After x-rays, and echocardiogram, and a CT scan it was determined that Sabrina had what was called a Double Aortic Arch and would need surgery to correct the problem.  The condition meant that her aortic arch split and wrapped around her esophagus and trachea and then joined back together.  The ring that was formed constricted her breathing and eating.  As she grew the problem would have only intensified. 

The procedure to fix the problem is call a thoracotomy.  They cut under her left arm and below her scapula for about 2 inches.  They then spread apart the ribs and moved her lungs to get to her heart.  They then could cut the left side of the ring allowing her esophagus and trachea room to expand.  The procedure took just under 2 hours.  

Sabrina was admitted into the hospital Friday, got the diagnosis on Saturday, went into surgery on Tuesday, got out of PCICU on Thursday, and released from the hospital Saturday.  What a week for our little girl. Sabrina was a great patient.  She just watched as many of the test were done.  They kept her on pain medication the entire time we were in the hospital, because a thoracotomy is very painful.  There are a lot of nerves that come into play.  The only complication that she had was a build-up of fat in her chest.  The fat is supposed to get into the bloodstream to go throughout the body.  The surgery interrupted this process and she had a lot of drainage.  The problem has a fix, a special formula which has a fat that is absorbed in the intestine rather than through the blood.  I am told it is not the best tasting stuff, so we add a bit of Vanilla syrup.  It is sad I cannot breastfeed her for a bit, but at least it is temporary. Four 4 weeks on the yucky tasting stuff and she can go back to yummy breastmilk.   

We have seen many blessing throughout this adventure.  One of the biggest is that the problem is fixed.  Unlike many congenital heart conditions that affect an individual for their entire life, Sabrina will not need to ever have surgery again in regard to this issue.  Another is that she did so well, and again shares her wonderful smile with us.



Update:  After finishing this post Sabrina woke up with her incision site very swollen.  We immediately saw the doctor and were scheduled to go back to the hospital to put in a drainage tube the following morning.  She was not in danger, but the formula was not taking care of the excess fat buildup and it was communicating to the incision.  When she would cry it would get bigger.

The drainage tube made for a happier baby, but did not take care of the issue.  It was determined that  Sabrina would need a second surgery.  They went in the same incision and sutured the lymph vein that was leaking fat so profusely.  It was not fun to spend another week in the hospital, but we are grateful she is well.  The cardiologist gave her a clean bill of health.  She never needs to see her again! 

 I have told Sabrina she has had her quota for hospital time.  She is not allowed to return until she is bringing my grandchildren into the world:)