After recovering from his surgery yesterday, Tom had a stable night and so the doctors prepared him to get taken off the ventilator this morning. When they removed the ventilator tube from his airway it became obvious that Tom couldnt breath himself as his airway was blocking even when he was awake. This was partly caused by swelling from the ventilator tube itself but also showed his airway had become unsafe. This made it impossible for them to insert a new breathing tube and put him back on the ventilator. Tom was therefore stuck with no clear airway and no way to breathe without a high level of assistance from the medical team. A surgical team was called together and they had to take Tom urgently to theatre to give him a safe airway by doing a tracheostomy. This is where they create an opening in his neck at front of his windpipe (the trachea) where a breathing tube is then inserted. This can then be connected to a ventilator if help is needed to actually generate a breath or the tube alone is left in place to bypass a blocked airway and allow a person to breathe themselves. Usually a procedure like this is performed as a planned operation and after consideration of other non invasive options. It had already been discussed as an option for Tom some time ago but as it can have significant implications for cardiac patients and their heart and lung function, the plan was to investigate other options before making a decision. That decision was unfortunately taken out of everyones hands today with what happened. So far, Toms cardiology team are reasonably happy his body will cope with the change in airway but he will be very closely monitored and its not known whether Tom will need to be ventilated overnight or even all the time or whether he just needs the breathing tube to secure his airway. Many specialists such as ENT, Respiratory, Cranial Facial and the Cardiology team will continue to look at whats causing the obstruction in Toms upper airway to try and rectify it, but its looking like the tracheostomy will need to be in place for a long time for that to happen. Its been a very difficult and stressful day and things have happened in a way we wouldnt have chosen, but the most important thing is tonight Tom is safe and well. Colin and I face another long spell in hospital while Tom recovers and gets tests, and we get extensive training on how to manage and care for Toms trache. We are lucky we have made some very good friends in our time here at Yorkhill whos babies have or previously had a tracheostomy so we have a wealth of knowledge and support to tap into. And we are praying Super Braveheart Tom (who despite it being an emergency, still took his superhero cape to theatre today) will conquer this latest challenge too. Where he goes, we go. Whatever he needs, we will be there to give him it. Love you Baby Tom, very much, no matter what xx
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 22:11:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015