The Whisler Life

So it looks like the endoscopy is going to be scheduled for Monday, January 21st - the time has yet to be determined. The endoscopy itself should last about 45 minutes, during which the doc will determine the severity of the condition (if indeed the subglottic stenonis is present). There is apparently a grade scale associated with this condition which uses percent obstruction to indicate whether or not surgery is the necessary fix. If the docs determine no surgery is necessary, Owen may be able to go home the same evening. My worry at this point is that Owen falls in the “gray zone” between grades, leaving us with the decision to do or not to do. Best case scenario is that the condition does not exist (which would however leave us trying to figure out another reason why his croup has been so bad and lasted so long???)… second best case scenario would be that they can clearly see the subglottic stenonis, and that it falls clearly within one of the “grade” categories, thereby making the decision for or against surgery a relatively easy one. I have spoken with both our regular pediatrician and the specialist doing the procedure at length and pummeled them both with all the questions Patrick and I could possibly think of. With those questions answered, we feel satisfied that we are making the right choice for Owen… and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed at this point that the surgery can be avoided. If it can’t be avoided, then the surgery to do the repair will take about an hour and half. He would then be transferred to ICU for at least a week (maybe as much as 10 days) depending on how well he heals. He would remain sedated for the duration in ICU, since a baby doesn’t respond well to being awake and intubated (having a tube stuck through his neck). He would be tube fed through his nose. The purpose of the sedated intubation for the week is to allow the trachea to heal in that “enlarged” diameter, thereby remedying the problem. It would be a permanent fix. Possible side effects are mainly those that occur during the week in ICU while intubated - pneumonia, other secondary infections, etc… So please keep your fingers crossed that surgery isn’t the answer. As those of you close to the family well know, we have justifiable reason to be overly paranoid about any procedure that requires going under. Let’s hope that that once-in-a-lifetime event is long behind us now…

…so until next week…