Cardiac cath 2/10/15

Luke had a cardiac cath today.  He had to be fasting food for 8 hours and no fluids 3 hours pre op.  We got to the hospital at 5:45 a.m. And the procedure started around 8:00.

Doctor Gray was the attending cath surgeon.  He said the atrial, ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures were all high.  He found multiple collaterals and closed about three off on the right side of the heart. He said he left the one on the left side of the heart there because of tomorrow's Fontan surgery.

Collaterals are small blood vessels that form as the body tries to compensate for low oxygen saturations.  Luke's were running from his aorta to the pulmonary arteries.  The attending physician said about 50% of post Glenn kids develop collaterals.  So it was not unexpected.

 Here is Luke after being checked in but before surgery.

Here is Luke in the postoperative recovery room.