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After 6 very long months, we are finally seeing an end to Andrew's blown knee problems! He will be having reconstructive surgery on Tuesday the 19th. He will be the first surgery in the morning. We have to be there by 6:00 AM. Should be fun getting a constantly fatigued teenager up at 4:00 AM!!! 
I am very nervous about this, but also glad to finally be seeing an end to it. We had a ton of problems just finding a hospital that would do the surgery. There needed to be a cardiac unit at the hospital that was doing the surgery and a cardiologists present. First thing was to find a hospital with both a cardiac unit and an orthopedic surgeon. We found that, but they refused to take him because he was a "pediatric" heart patient and they only had adult cardiologists!
With the help of both our hometown hospital and Andrew's pediatric cardiologist's office, we did finally manage to get a hospital that will do the surgery. However, they also do not have any pediatric cardiologists, only adult cards. nor do they have any HCM specialists. But it was the best that we could do! (They DO have an ICD specialist there though!)
SO......... we had 4 1/2 hours of pre-op yesterday. Not only the "usual" pre-op stuff but also meetings with this adult cardiologist and anesthesiology due to his special situation. (HCM and ICD).
Surgery is expected to be about 2 1/2 hours, however we were warned it could turn into more if they come across unexpected damage. Due to his ICD they were not able to do an MRI, so they are kind of going in there unsure to the extent of damage! They do know for sure on three areas that were blown (through physical testing) but not sure if that is all.
This will be a combination surgery of both open incisions and arthroscope surgery. We were told along with his two scope wounds he will have about a 4 inch incision running vertically down his knee. We were also told it is a very long (6-9 months)and painful recovery. They said in addition to the anesthesia that he will be given a femoral nerve block. This is an injection that will completely numb his leg for anywhere between 12- 16 hours. They do this to help reduce the immense pain the first few hours when he wakes up after surgery.
We also found out that they will be shutting off his ICD for the surgery. they will shut it off just before starting surgery and turn it back on right afterwards.
SO I guess we are all set!
One additional note...............coincidently, his heart clinic called yesterday morning and they want us to do a CareLink phone transmission of his ICD Monday morning. His ICD battery has been on the low end for about a year now. PLEASE keep your fingers crossed he doesn't need that replacement surgery within the next month or two now also!!!
I am very nervous about this, but also glad to finally be seeing an end to it. We had a ton of problems just finding a hospital that would do the surgery. There needed to be a cardiac unit at the hospital that was doing the surgery and a cardiologists present. First thing was to find a hospital with both a cardiac unit and an orthopedic surgeon. We found that, but they refused to take him because he was a "pediatric" heart patient and they only had adult cardiologists!
With the help of both our hometown hospital and Andrew's pediatric cardiologist's office, we did finally manage to get a hospital that will do the surgery. However, they also do not have any pediatric cardiologists, only adult cards. nor do they have any HCM specialists. But it was the best that we could do! (They DO have an ICD specialist there though!)SO......... we had 4 1/2 hours of pre-op yesterday. Not only the "usual" pre-op stuff but also meetings with this adult cardiologist and anesthesiology due to his special situation. (HCM and ICD).
Surgery is expected to be about 2 1/2 hours, however we were warned it could turn into more if they come across unexpected damage. Due to his ICD they were not able to do an MRI, so they are kind of going in there unsure to the extent of damage! They do know for sure on three areas that were blown (through physical testing) but not sure if that is all.
This will be a combination surgery of both open incisions and arthroscope surgery. We were told along with his two scope wounds he will have about a 4 inch incision running vertically down his knee. We were also told it is a very long (6-9 months)and painful recovery. They said in addition to the anesthesia that he will be given a femoral nerve block. This is an injection that will completely numb his leg for anywhere between 12- 16 hours. They do this to help reduce the immense pain the first few hours when he wakes up after surgery.
We also found out that they will be shutting off his ICD for the surgery. they will shut it off just before starting surgery and turn it back on right afterwards.
SO I guess we are all set!
One additional note...............coincidently, his heart clinic called yesterday morning and they want us to do a CareLink phone transmission of his ICD Monday morning. His ICD battery has been on the low end for about a year now. PLEASE keep your fingers crossed he doesn't need that replacement surgery within the next month or two now also!!!
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