The time has come!

Tomorrow afternoon we will be heading down to UCLA. Aidan's surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 7 am. Which means, we will have to arrive at the hospital at 5am! Not like time really matters, I haven't slept in weeks. Aidan's surgery will last approximately 3.5-4.5 hours. So we anticipate he will be out of surgery around 11 am. And I also anticipate that I will be a nervous reck until then! Thankfully, my entire family is going to be there at the hospital, so I know this will make things a little bit easier.

Post operatively Aidan will be intubated and sedated for a period of time. The nurse practitioner said he could be intubated until the next morning, but usually they take him off the ventilator about 12 hours after the surgery. He will also have a Central line (these are longer lasting IV's so that they won't be having to change his IV every 2-3 days, plus kids' veins tend to blow easier so having the central line will hopefully prevent some of those issues), an arterial line (this helps to closely monitor his blood pressure), and 1-2 chest tubes (to help drain any excess fluid that might have accumulated around the heart during surgery). Our biggest concern post-operatively is BLOOD PRESSURE. The doctors said he can have what is called "rebound hypertension." This is due to the fact that his heart has been so used to pumping extra hard that even after the blockage is removed, the heart can continue to pump at an abnormal rate/pressure and can lead to even higher BP. They will be closely monitoring his BP during the first few days, and they said there is a chance that if it is not adequately controlled that Aidan will have to be sent home with Blood Pressure medications.... so pray that is not that case!

Picture of a central line: Aidan's line will either be in his jugular or his femoral vein (in his groin area)

The surgery: just to clear things up for you readers out there... it is NOT an open heart surgery! Aidan's heart will not be stopped, cut open, or placed on bypass. This is considered an OPEN CHEST procedure or a thoracotomy. They will enter in through the side/ribs. The doctors have informed us that his is THE MOST PAINFUL procedure because they are having to separate muscle and spread ribs. OUCHIE! Once the surgeon has entered, he will clamp off the aorta and removed the narrowed portion. He will then sew the two ends back together. I have used this picture once before, but it is the best I could find. Below is the address of a youtube video showing a real coarct repair... i won't watch it because it freaks me out, but i thought you guys might want to see...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGohu9fqKHg

Aidan will likely be in the ICU for 4-5 days and then discharged home. At first I was no okay with the idea of having him in the intensive care unit the whole time, but being in the same unit means the same nurses, doctors, and residents. Knowing that the same team will be taking care of Aidan during his entire stay made me feel much better about the ICU.

I have spent the last few days packing and shopping for the hospital stay. I (like usual) am totally overpacked, but I want to make sure I have everything I could possibly need. I am so nervous that Aidan will be a handful (as he usually is) and I won't be able to keep him still. I asked the nurse if she could keep him on fentanyl for a longer than normal period, because my child is not normal... haha. Aidan is a tough kid, I know he will be just fine. Thanks again for everyones kind words, wishes, and prayers. I will do my best to keep everyone updated during and after the procedure!