The Latest

06.13.2012

Sam has just come out of the O.R. She did well. It was about 2 1/2 hours in total. I received updates all the way through from Alison and spoke to the surgeon after the case and it seems like everything was as good as could be in this particular situation. He did not find a fistula. That may not mean that much to you but believe me, it’s huge! The graft they placed over top of the cut lung area from the first surgery looked healthy and thick. It’s acting like a protective layer in the area that the fistula can form. He also said that was no indication of a full blown infection but there was some murky looking stuff which may have carried a low load of bacteria. In any case all that stuff was washed out with antibiotics. Sam will sit in the post -op recovery for a while before heading back to the ward. Not the ICU.

She will wake up once again with a chest tube, naso-gastric tube, a couple of IV’s, catheter, and another small line going into the top of her lung which gives her chest an internal constant wash/drip of antibiotics in addition to her regular IV antibiotics. She will be happy it went well but I guarantee you she will not be happy about the tubes. SHE HATES TUBES!

I have managed to get the last flight out of town Friday so should be there by noon Saturday. With any luck Sam will be able to update you herself by the time I get there.

Jesse