Clinical Synopsis "from Dummies"

Some of you have asked for more of a clinical update on Mom’s condition. Here goes a non-clinicians clinical update--that hopefully, makes sense to all:

• The initial surgery that she had was related to the aneurism. They found one aneurism that they were able to clip and another vessel that was dilated that they wrapped. This surgery is very intrusive and left her a scar that runs from the top of her head down to the bottom of her side burn. The scar is pretty rough looking and is held with 40 staples. Lucky for mom it is within her hairline and should be covered. Unfortunately for Mom the surgeon didn’t attend any beautician classes and she is sporting a pretty funky hairdo.
• When she took a turn for the worse two days later they took her back in for surgery and installed a tube that allows fluid to drain from her brain. This helps because it keeps all the fluid from building up and pushing against her brain. It also helps to drain the blood that has mixed with the fluid. This also necessitated another great looking buzz cut on the top of her head.
• She was extubated a few days ago and is breathing on her own.
• She has several tubes including a feeding tube that is fed through her nose, an IV, art valve, and a tube draining fluid from her head.
• As long as the tube is in her head she will be in the ICU, and for those who visit, one thing the nurse is likely to remind you is to not move the head of her bed up or down. Moving it can cause the tube to drain faster or slower than it should, both cause problems.
• When you visit, you will likely notice a “sitter”. It is common for people in her condition to go through bouts were they are not as aware of what is going on and could potentially pull a tube. Pulling any of the tubes would not be good, especially the head tube. So for the people visiting and staying with Mom, please remind her to keep her hands away from the tubes. She has wrist restraints to help, but she can still reach the tubes when she leans forward—a gentle reminder to lay back seems to work.
• The biggest concern for Mom right now is that she starts bleeding in her brain again. A close second is the Vasospasms. The blood in the brain acts as an irritant to the vessels and causes them to constrict or spasm. The most worrisome outcome is a stroke. The docs have several ways to monitor and counteract this, but as I spoke with a physician this morning he mentioned it is not an exact science. She is in the window right now where they have warned us that it will be a roller coaster. As the blood starts to breakdown it even further irritates the brain. She will be in the window for the next 7-10 days.
• One of the preventative methods is to perform an Angiogram. This morning at rounds the Drs decided it was time to go in and do another one. The results were good. There is no active bleeding. There is some vasospasming, but they were minor and did not require them to go in and inject the spasm areas with medicine to prevent it.
• Mom’s head is still draining blood-tinged fluids from her brain. Until the fluids run clear, she’ll continue to have a tube in her head (and as long as the tube is in her head, she’ll need to stay in the Neuro ICU).

Matt is visiting her this evening and ran into the physicians on the way into the room. They were very complimentary on how things are progressing. They said they were able to have a conversation with her and she was able to answer all their questions. Before this, she has been able to answer initial questions, but then started repeating answers. For example, you could ask her who someone was and she would say their name, but as you would ask her who other people were, she would repeat the name of the first person.

Thanks to all who have visited Mom. We know how you all love her and appreciate that you want to spend time with her. If you haven’t been able to see her, fear not … there are many more visitation opportunities and please keep letting us know when you are available to visit or sit with Mom. If you will send an email to friendsofdebrahale@gmail.com letting us know you’d be willing/able to visit, Jeff can send you a calendar that will let you know the best times for a visit. For those of you unable to visit, please continue to pray for her. Thanks again for all your help.