Burke's Anatomy (Part 1)

Rachel and I told our families several months ago that we would post drawings of Burke's heart. Here is the beginnings of making good on that word. I must say before I get into this posting very far that we sincerely appreciate everyones interest and concern for Burke. It has been a challenge to articulate in words the particulars of Burke's condition. I am sure we have confused many of you with our explanations. These drawings are an attempt at showing what his anatomy looks like....at least what it looks like according to our understanding. Despite all the test that have been performed to better understand the makeup of his heart, the day of his surgery will prove to be quite interesting because the surgeons will finally be able to see first hand and touch with their own hands, his heart. Today's technology is remarkable. It has allowed us to understand his condition and has also kept him alive but I have often reflected on a comment made by his cardiologist. In reference to all the testing that Burke has been through Dr. Jou acknowledged that 'all these tests are to help us understand his anatomy, to help us determine what modern medicine can do and to minimize any surprises for the surgeons'. What I find so interesting about this is that yes we understand a lot of what is going on inside Burke but there are still things that we don't know and won't know until his chest is opened and his heart tangibly examined. I pray that at that moment more of the Lord's miracles will be made known.

Below, as the heading says, is a drawing of a normal heart. I won't insult anybodies intelligence by walking you through the blood flows. The arrows should do an adequate job of that.


These next two drawings are of Burke's heart at birth. His heart disease is technically called Double outlet right ventricle with d-malposition of the great arteries, pulmonary atresia with hypoplastic, continuous branch pulmonary arteries, large inlet VSD with outlet extention. The first drawing shows the 3 major problems. They are; 1) His Aorta comes off the Right Ventricle. As you see from the "normal heart drawing" it should come off the Left Ventricle. Hence double outlet right ventricle, there are two outlets coming out of the right ventricle, both aorta (because the aorta grew on the wrong side of his heart) and the pulmonary artery. 2) The Pulmonary Artery was 1/3 the diameter it should have been because his Pulmonary Valve is essentially dead. And 3) VSD- Ventricular Septal Defect-which is a major hole between his Right and Left Ventricles in the wall of his heart. Technically there is a 4th problem but it gets dwarfed by the other three. The 4th problem is that he has a small hole between the two Atriums (upper two chambers of the heart). This hole hasn't caused much concern because these small holes are fairly common in new born babies and they often close on their own.

This next drawing has some arrows added in to show the blood flows. As you look at this drawing you will notice that although he has that major hole between his two ventricles its actually a huge blessing. This hole has given the blood that dumps into the left ventricle a place to go and has allowed it to recirculate throughout the body and lungs. If this hole were not there the Left Ventricle would be a dead-end and that ventricle would not have developed. Ultimately this hole has kept him alive. I guess this is what you would call "a blessing in disguise."



In the next posting I'll show what was done during his 1st surgery. Then what was done during his heart catheter, then what the game plan is for this next surgery.