Surgery Update: 7:00pm - Going Well!

We just spoke with the cardiac nurse, and the bulk of the surgical procedure is done! The conduit was successfully attached to Evie's right atrium and then connected to her pulmonary artery. Evie heart was then restarted successfully and right now medications are being applied to try and re-regulate her natural pump and flow.

Her oxygen levels were a little low so they have not removed her from the heart and lung machine yet. When the machine was turned off, her oxygen levels dipped down to about 50, so it was started back up and right now the docs are adjusting the medications to try and help her body get back on track. These are all known side-effects/complications of using a heart and lung machine. One of these side effects affects the lungs and makes them "stiff," so meds are being applied to help them return to normal.

They are going to keep her on the machine for about another 15-20 minutes to see how the meds affect her and if her oxygen saturation levels improve. The nurse will be back out in an hour.

On a side note, I have a medical correction to post for the 3 or 4 pediatricians who read this blog. I previously called her shunt a "Sano" shunt. However, that is not technically correct because a Sano shunt doesn't have a valve in it, while Evie's does. Unfortunately, there isn't a "cool" name for her conduit so I'm just going to keep calling it a "Sano with valve" shunt. :)

I have also learned how the heart is stopped and started back up again (and it doesn't involve electric shocks like I thought!). A medicated solution is applied to the heart to help it slow down, and it's started back up by merely removing the solution that stopped it, and the heart usually starts pumping again on its own. If you want to see a baby's heart start back up, check out this video and go to the 7 minute mark.