Heart Cath Today

We are @ MUSC for Brandt's heart cath...will probably not know results for 4 to 5 hours.

We got in to Charleston late last night. Brandt was NOT a happy camper on the trip here, and wanted to eat right up until his midnight deadline last night. But he was back to his happy self this morning until about 7:15 when he started to howl for food. Glenn actually did a better job holding him--since he thinks Mommy means food--until they took him back for anesthesia around 7:45 or so. The dr and anesthesiologists explained he would have general anesthesia and be on a vent during the procedure...I was thinking he got to have more sedation for this kind of testing, but it's always reassuring to talk with the excellent staff here regarding their procedures, since they have it down to such a science.

So they completed an echo and then will inject dye to take movies and detailed pressure readings which can confirm he's ready for the second surgery. The heart cath should take about 3 to 4 hours and then they will observe him four to six hours to make sure he recovers without bleeding or problems eating. As long as they don't encounter anything unexpected he shouldn't have to spend the night. I guess sometimes they find narrowing that they can fix with a balloon, in which case they will keep him longer.

10:30am We heard from the cath lab they have completed the echo under sedation, gained access and are working on the cath and saturation readings...