Thoughts & Questions Rolling Through...

Today I have been looking up some details about the type of Fontan surgery that Shrav received. There are a couple of ways, at least, to do the Fontan. Shrav's was an extra-cardiac conduit (tube connecting inferior vena cava with the pulmonary artery) with a fenestration (hole) between the conduit and the right atrium of the heart. The fenestration acts as a pressure relief pathway since the front end circulation is now passive without a pump to move things along. It is especially important right after surgery when the body is adjusting to the pressures, and minimizes pleural effusions (fluid near the lungs) and helps your child go home sooner after surgery, if all goes well. The fenestration can close by itself at some point, or it may be closed in the cath lab later. One significant difference with the fenestration is that oxygen sats are lower (85-95 for us right now). I would love to see Shrav get up in the mid-90's and stay there, but we don't want to have to go through anything else to get it :). Shrav's anatomy is/was very complex and the fenestration is a nice safety mechanism to protect her from complications. With how great Shrav is doing now we are thankful to be where we are and look forward to enjoying life even more!! We still need to get some more thank you's written, especially to the PICU and Pediatrics nurses and doctors....will try and write a post just about the PICU experience soon...