It's getting real

Today I started to pack my suitcase and hospital bag. As I was packing stuff for Colston it really hit me, he is going to be here in just a couple short weeks. I doubt they would do the c-section on a Saturday but part of me is secretly hoping he is born on 7/11 so that he will always get a free slurpee on his birthday. ;)

I am still doing research on my own as we are running on limited information until our next doctors appointment, but I wanted to provide you guys with more information regarding the Hybrid Stage 1 procedure that we will be having. 

The Hybrid procedure is done in the "Hybrid Suite". This specialized suite is a combined operating room and cardiac catheterization room. The baby does not require heart-lung bypass for the first stage. It can be used on smaller weight infants and for families who request Alternative Non-Blood Medical Management. Stage 1 usually is done within the first week of life.

The Hybrid Stage I consists of:

Placement of bands around the right and left pulmonary arteries. This restricts blood flow to the pulmonary arteries, thereby balancing the circulation (to the lungs and the body). This also reduces the extra blood flow to the lungs.

Stenting of the PDA (pulmonary ductus arteriosus) keeps the PDA open and maintains the connection to the aorta and the body’s circulation.

There must be enough of a connection between the top two chambers of the heart (the atria) to provide open blood flow and mixing of the oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood. This can be done through a balloon atrial septostomy. In this procedure a small tube (catheter) is passed across the septum between the two atria. Then a balloon on the end of the catheter is inflated and pulled back across the septum to enlarge the opening.

There is also a video on youtube that Justin and I watched that is of the procedure. Fair warning though, it is not for the faint of heart. It is very graphic. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VPhqo5ucpo