PDA Closure

Yesterday the neonatologist decided to have another echocardiogram done to see if Lauren's PDA had decreased from the Indocin. It ended up that is was 2.8mm and was 3mm before the Indocin. Not much of an improvement and with her increasing spells of decreased oxygen saturations, occasional apnea and bradycardia, he decided that it was time to ligate the PDA surgically. Lauren would have to be put back on the ventilator just before surgery because it is done under general anesthesia, however she was having multiple apnea episodes last night so they intubated around 7am this morning. She will probably be on the ventilator for at least a few days if not more because of the possibility that she may get worse before getting better. We are very hopeful that having the PDA fixed will help her to not have to work so hard to breathe. We were able to see her for quite a while before surgery and while they set up for it. She was pretty tired and slept most of the time, however she did open both of her eyes for us a few times. She also would pick up her head and move it around. The doctors said she tolerated surgery well. She will be pretty sleepy for the rest of today and tomorrow.

The nurses also keep telling us how strong she is. Yesterday when I was holding her she would pick up her head and move it around until she was comfortable and then lay it back down. When she was doing it I kept thinking of how remarkable it was because she is so small and has all that cpap gear on. The nurses also said that they when they were suctioning her yesterday morning she was really crying loud and other people in the NICU were shocked that all the noise was coming from the tiny baby. That's my girl!

The picture today shows Lauren's incision from the PDA surgery. It looks to be about an inch or so long.