Post Op

Yesterday was pretty uneventful which we are learning after going through 3 previous open heart surgeries, uneventful is the way to go. They took off the paralytic drug yesterday around noon. They thought it would wear off about an hour after that, but he didn't end up moving until late afternoon. They were not worried about him not moving for so long, it just will postpone his extubation. They thought that maybe he could be extubated late today, but he is fluid positive and they want him to have less fluid in his body before they take the breathing tube out.

He had a good night last night and this morning has been going well too. We are learning that post op recovery time is a balancing act! They change and tweek his meds frequently to keep him happy and calm. They might order an ECHO later on today because his pressures in his Left atrium sometimes creep up. They were planning on doing an ECHO tomorrow before they extubate him, but they just might order it sooner to make sure all is well in his heart. But overall his vitals are reading very well and heart and lung function are doing great. His lungs are starting to experience some fluid movement but that is expected because he is moving around more. It is good to get everything moving and working in there and as the days pass by he will eventually pee off the fluid out of his lungs.

He has opened his eyes a few times today, but he has seemed pretty agitated so we try and calm him quickly because he still has the breathing tube in and they don't want him to pull it out or to damage his throat by moving too much. So, needless to say they keep him pretty sedated. Tomorrow they will get him to wake up more and hopefully by late tomorrow they will get that breathing tube out and Burke will be a lot more comfortable with that out of his throat.

We haven't taken many pictures just because he is still in the same bed, nearly the same position and hasn't changed much since he came out of the OR. But, here are a few of what he is going through. These were taken Thursday right after they got him into the CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit) just after surgery.

This time around he has been way less puffy and swollen. They say altitude plays a big factor in that and also the expertise of this surgeon. We are amazed still with all Dr. Hanley has done for Burke. He only has one chest tube this time around instead of three- also due to the altitude.

Well, as I am at his bedside writing this, the doctor just came by to tell me they are going to order an ECHO to check out his heart. I don't think this is anything to be alarmed by but we will just have to see. I better go now.