Need your help…
Hi all,
I am writing you all in hope that you guys can say a BIG prayer for my
Dad. He just had bypass surgery this past Thursday and he did make it
through okay. He looked great to me yesterday despite the fact that he
was still on a oxygen mask. Unfortunately, I got a call this morning
at 4AM that he had been put back on the ventilator because his
numbers/vital signs were out of whack. Also, he showed signs that his
kidneys were struggling. I love my Dad so much and I would appreciate
any good thoughts you could send his way. I know I haven’t met anyone
in person from this group but I feel like this group is like a family.
Anything you could do would be appreciated.
Evelyn
June 14th, 2007 at 5:03 am
Evelyn,
One of the reasons for being put back on the vent could have been that he was having ventricular dysrrhythmias, such as vtach (fast beats) or vfib (the pumping part just kinda quivering). These are common occurrances when one is removed from a vent, and it is not quite time to do so. Your dad, perhaps, just needs some more time on the vent, giving the heart some time to get stronger after the bypass. I am not sure without seeing the chart.
As far as the kidneys go, if they are not being perfused adequately, they will show some signs of stress, and the urine output will go down if the heart is having any difficulty pumping. (The heart may beat faster, but ultimately send less blood to the kidneys.) Once again, the extra stability of the vent O2 may be a good thing. The vtach/fib would not pump adequately to perfuse (blood going through) the kidneys.
I will keep your dad in my prayers. Please know that it is normal to have someone on a form of sedation while on the vent in order to prevent some of the restlessness that can occur while on a vent. The restlessness puts more O2 demand on the heart muscle, which needs to be avoided immediately post open heart surgery.
Evelyn, if you have any questions, ask the nurse. He or she should be more than happy to answer them if the doc is not there. And, the nurse should have way more time to answer to your content.
I don’t know everything, but do know some, since I work in the CVICU. Still learning, and always will, though.
Thoughts and prayers with you, Evelyn, and your dad.
Whatever thy hands find to do, do it with all thy might. Ecc. 9:10
Joan Geohegan
June 15th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Hi Evelyn, Prayers are on the way! Take care of you too!
Carol Cusick