field trip! to the OR

As we were making our way to the hospital on Friday afternoon, the doctor called. I was a little surprised -- it's been awhile since we've received such a call -- but as he explained the reason for his call, I was not. (I guess Google searching has some benefits after all.) After the imaging of his GI tract, Calder had been diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. Treatment requires surgery. This isn't all bad. It explains why Calder has been vomiting, and the timing means that the surgeon can address all Calder's operable issues in one fell swoop. 

Calder is scheduled to go into the OR this morning sometime between 8 and 9 am for three procedures: esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) (insertion of the G-tube), pyloromyotomy and hernia repair. When we spoke to the surgeon who will be performing all three procedures, she explained that to fix the pyloris, she won't be cutting anything down to make space but rather spreading the muscle apart. She told us she has never had to operate to re-address the condition, that this should be a one-time fixer-upper. The other two procedures are also ones she has performed countless times before. None of them have any very unique high risks associated with them, although they all still carry the risks associated with any surgery.

Calder will be put under completely and therefore will need to be re-intubated since he won't have the wherewithal to breathe. Given his history and the condition of his lungs, the doctors are hopeful that they'll be able to extubate within 24 hours -- they certainly don't want to further damage his lungs by leaving him on the machine any longer than they have to. He has two new IVs through which they are administering nourishment and, soon, anesthesia and other medication. Sumaya warned us that he'll still be out when we see him afterward, so we should be prepared to see a very drugged up little man. Calder will be operated on for about two hours, plus time before and after for preparation and completion, like getting the anesthesiologist in there and then settling Calder back in in the NICU. 

Speaking of, Calder has a new room! Though we have been in isolation the whole time (the gowns and the gloves), we have still been in a big room with about 15-20 other babies. A couple days ago the isolation room opened up, so his nurse Eileen confiscated it on his behalf. It opens right up into the main room and yet it is incredibly quieter ... and comes with it's own little TV in the corner, perfect for football fans. We are no longer tripping over his swing. We are glad this means that when Calder comes back from surgery today, he'll be able to get some sleep!