Apparently there was some confusion about the bronkoscopy procedure that was 'scheduled' for today. It was not scheduled for today. The medical observation team thought is was scheduled, the transplant team says they were reading some old notes in Cathy's chart.
The doctors (transplant team) want Cathy to begin taking her medication and more food by mouth. They want to remove the feeding tube from her nose (NG-tube). This is a possible source of infection. Cathy's PICC line (a small catheter that was placed through one of Cathy's veins several weeks ago) is also going to be removed today or tomorrow. This is another possible source of infection. Cathy spiked a small fever yesterday afternoon (I did not hear about it until this morning). There is no fever so far today. The doctors want to reduce the possible routes of infection. If Cathy is unable to take her medications by mouth, or take enough nourishment by mouth, they will consider placing a tube through her abdomen into her stomach (a G-tube).
According to the transplant team, "a bronkoscopy will be performed this week, within the next 72-hours, probably tomorrow or Thursday" (how's that for committing to a schedule?). According to the medical observation team, they will review Cathy's chart and see what the transplant team wants. [---- I think I may be sensing a little miscommunication between the teams ----].
Cathy has been setting up in in a chair for a little over an hour now. She is breathing room air if you can believe that! The inner cannula (small tube) was removed from her trach to make it easier for her to draw air in the push it out. Every few minutes Cathy will place the Bi-Pap hose up to her trach opening and give herself a 'shot or two" of oxygen saturated air. What a visual juxtaposition between looking at Cathy today versus eight weeks ago in the ICU.
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