OT: Never taking surgery lightly again!

[MightyMom]

My son(8) has had more surgeries than birthdays. (He has cerebral palsy) I honestly don't remember how many times he's been sedated under general anesthesia. He's had an allergic reaction to oral anesthetics so must be sedated under general anesthesia for all procedures... including MRI's and simple dental work.

This week he went in for his 4th eye surgery. It was set to be an outpatient procedure. He was over anxious this time around. Terrified actually. By the time the anestheologist came into the OR holding room, I could not console my boy. He was begging me to cancel the surgery.

To make a really long story short...... DS started to vomit during the surgery after he was already intubated and on the ventilator. He aspirated into his lungs and his O2 levels dropped. The procedure was finished and DS was taken into recovery on oxygen. A chest X-Ray revealed fluid in his lungs. DS has decreased breath sounds on the right lung.

We came home late last night. He's still getting nebulizer treatments every 4 hours and chest physical therapy treatments. He's on a strong antibiotic and numerous other medications. We follow up with a pulmonary doctor on Monday.

This has scared me back into reality. There is ALWAYS a risk with surgery. ALWAYS. I guess I just took that for granted because all the other procedures have gone so well.

DS is having a major orthopedic surgery in the winter.... I know both he and I will be nervous wrecks leading up to it. My stomach already turns just thinking about it.

Life is so fragile.

 

[Tammysue5]

As a nurse and a mother... your right...surgeries can take a toll! (on mom and the patient) Sounds like your little one has been pretty brave having gone through all of those previous surgeries. Praying for a speedy recovery... not only of his body but also his emotional needs. That is good that they were still able to extubate him....a good sign.

 

[disneymarie]

Mom,
Didn;t they give him something for the nerves before they came into sedate him? If he had that much anxiety there should have been something in th IV to calm him down and take the edge off. I know life is so precious. Once a medcation put my dd in liver failure, when she was discharged she had a bacterial infection from the hospital and it ended up being flesh eating, Her arm was fileted open and dead tissue and muscle removed from the palm to to almost the armpit......
She almost lost her arm. The doctor should ahve done blood work at 4 weeks and 3 months, the liver would have shown problems. A year later she was in the hospital again for adverse reactions to a mood medication used for nerve pain. She did not tolerate it, had seizures and hallucinated. They denied using the medication. She was home one day with me and passed away during the night when she had a seizure and stopped breathing from the high dose of that medication.......It was in her blood work.

They were so convinced that med was a mirical drug for nerve pain.....
I lost my oldest child. I will nerve see chidren from her, her bright blue eyes, or feisty dispostion. The worst thing is when our children have chronic conditions, my prayers are with you and hope that the next procedure there is time for his anxiety to come down. Maybe a hypnatist or someone with biofeedback will help. Also using something in the IV for nausea too..
Hugs and prayers to your family.
Dianne

 

[Tammysue5]

Dianne
Thanks for sharing that... it is so difficult to hear things like that...but it also reminds us exactly how fragile life is. I am very sorry about the loss of your little girl.. I can only imagine how hard that must be. I always try to remain professional when I am working, yet.... I have, at times, been unable to fight back the tears that well-up when you are carrying for a little one that is so ill. You just put yourself in the place of the mother and you come home from work and hug your kids!

I wish both of your families the very best... thoughts and prayers.

 

[minkydog]

Bless you both Its never easy to see your children go through surgery, even when you know they need it and it will help them. There's no getting around it--surgery has risks and its heartbreaking when it goes badly for your child. Hope your baby heals quickly, with no more drama. (Try not to think about the next surgery--there will be plenty of time to worry about that later.)

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Hugs to you both.

You both are such strong Moms and you're both in my thoughts and prayers..

I'm having outpatient surgery soon, and it is scary..

 

[ChristusG]

Now I'm freaked! DD's doctor just told us that she will need to be given a "whiff" of anesthesia and put lightly under for a scope of her throat in early October (if not before then if someone cancels and they can fit us in). She's had croup four times since January, this last episode landing her in the hospital. They want to find out if she has an abnormally narrowed airway that could be causing all of this croup. If she does, they will do a minor surgery in her throat while she is under (only a small incision and a few stitches).

I've never been put under anesthesia and neither has either one of my girls. I was a little nervous about it, but then the doctor told me that he has done scopes/procedures on 10,000 children and never had a problem. I was a little calmer after that.

Now I'm freaked again!

 

[RMulieri]

As an RN and a MOM..:you said a right darlin!!!hug: get well soon!

 

[Aristomommy]

MightyMom: you are so right that life is fragile!!! Hugs to your family.

DHs side of family has malignant hyperthermia, a condition where a person's body temperature can rise to dangerous levels while under anesthesia. A family member died while under general anesthesia. All family members on DHs side are considered susceptible as it's difficult to test for this condition.

DS3 just had tubes put in Tuesday and I was so nervous about the hyperthermia. He was fine but as a mom it's difficult to consider the risks of the procedure vs. benefits.

You are a brave mom. Speak with your child's Dr about the anxiety and see if he could have medication to reduce anxiety before the next procedure. Our children's hospital is excellent in handling kids with frequent surgeries. The older kids are the more they realize what will happen to them and possible risks of the procedure.

 

[HeatherSue]

Oh my goodness! That is just awful. I feel terrible for him for being so scared in the first place. Will his lungs eventually go back to normal, or is this permanent, or don't you know? for you and for your little guy

I'll keep your family in my prayers.

 

[minnie2]

Oh my I hope he is feeling better soon. What a brave little boy and MOM!

Diane I am so sorry for your loss!

I have malignant hyperthermia on my side of the family and we were told the same thing. ANYONE in the family show be treated as if they have it when going under. Sadly I have had fights with anesthesiologists over this. When My son had his tonsils out a few yrs ago the anesthesiologist was fine but he kept recommending the kids to be tested for it. Problem is the test is VERY painful and still doesn't me they wouldn't have a reaction if the test came back negative so I refuse to test them and push the hospitals hand to treat them as if they have it.

When my dd had her endoscopy last yr I had a HUGe fight with the anesthesiologist a few minutes before they were to take her in. He started fighting with me right in front of her and she was freaked out as it was. She was only 7 and that is scary. He even got more annoyed when I asked him to step out of her room and talk to me about it. I had come to the conclusion he was too lazy to prepare the room for her and have it safe! I was so mad! Thankfully the dr made sure it was prepped right.

They cleaned the room out with oxygen all night and had to flush all the machines to make sure there was no residue of the anesthesia that could make the kids sick. with both my kids procedures we were always the 1st surgery in the am.



to you and your little one!

 

[MightyMom]

That is good that they were still able to extubate him....a good sign.

Yes! When the doc came out of the OR the first time to report what was going on.... it flashed into my head that they may have to keep him intubated longer. He was a preemie and doesn't have the greatest lungs to begin with.... so this made me nervous.

Mom,
Didn;t they give him something for the nerves before they came into sedate him?

Oh Dianne! I am so heartbroken to hear about your daughter. I'm sure the pain and frustration never goes away. I am so deeply sorry for the loss of your daughter.
To answer your question.... they gave him a "stiff" dose of Versed while in the holding room. It didn't really work because he was still sobbing when they rolled him away into the OR. When they tried to start an IV his veins collapsed. They gave him a shot in his arm to put him to sleep instantly. They finally started the IV after the 4th try. The anesthesiologist said he needed anti anxiety medication prior to the next procedure.

(Try not to think about the next surgery--there will be plenty of time to worry about that later.)

Time seems to be going by so quickly lately.... I know this next procedure will sneak up on us before we know it.

Now I'm freaked! DD's doctor just told us that she will need to be given a "whiff" of anesthesia and put lightly under for a scope of her throat in early October (if not before then if someone cancels and they can fit us in).

I didn't mean to scare anyone! I'm not gonna tell you not to worry about it.... but I will say that it is very unlikely something will happen to your daughter under light anesthetic.

You are a brave mom. Speak with your child's Dr about the anxiety and see if he could have medication to reduce anxiety before the next procedure. Our children's hospital is excellent in handling kids with frequent surgeries. The older kids are the more they realize what will happen to them and possible risks of the procedure.

The anestheologist already has a plan of care for my son's next procedures. We are to contact him once a surgery is scheduled so he can be in the OR. He suggested we start him on anti anxiety meds leading up to the procedure... and give him a low dose of valium the morning of the procedure. The doc said the higher the anxiety levels... the more fluid that builds up in the stomach that can lead to these serious complications.

Oh my goodness! That is just awful. I feel terrible for him for being so scared in the first place. Will his lungs eventually go back to normal, or is this permanent, or don't you know? for you and for your little guy

I'll keep your family in my prayers.

Thank you. I appreciate prayers. My son was born premature and has cerebral palsy. His lungs aren't the best anyway..... so I don't know how this complication will factor in. I hope to know more on Monday. Thanks!

 

[RMulieri]

it sounds like he developed aspiration pneumonia, which actually does happen.many people can vomit during surgery with an ET tube in.The vomit goes right into the lungs and blammo ...nice pnuemonia develops.In normal healthy lungs ,people just get a course of antibiotic therapy ,nebulizer treatments and theygenerally recover.In children and children with other underlying conditions, it gets a little trickier and recovery may take longerbecause their lungs and airways are smaller and not as developed to begin with.With appropriate therapy and vigilance on your behalf He should be fine .

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry for you and your son (and the rest of your family) - that sounds so horrible. I guess you can't take anything for granted. Good luck with his next one.

 

[eliza61]

I just had knee surgery last thursday (blew out my knee cap running. No good deed goes unpunished. lol) anyway, I got sick as a dog from the anesthisia. The nurse had the nerve to say to me "you have to follow directions" when I asked her what she meant, she said "it's obvious you ate after midnight" I swear if I had the strength I would have went ballistic. My dh informed her, that I hadn't had any thing to eat or drink since 6:30 the previous night (including water, juice etc) and please stop making idiotic assumptions.

Surgery is hard on the body.

 

[minkydog]

I just had knee surgery last thursday (blew out my knee cap running. No good deed goes unpunished. lol) anyway, I got sick as a dog from the anesthisia. The nurse had the nerve to say to me "you have to follow directions" when I asked her what she meant, she said "it's obvious you ate after midnight" I swear if I had the strength I would have went ballistic. My dh informed her, that I hadn't had any thing to eat or drink since 6:30 the previous night (including water, juice etc) and please stop making idiotic assumptions.

Surgery is hard on the body.

This kind of stuff makes me crazy! I've been a nurse for 31 years, long enough to know better than to say something so assine to a patient. I get sick as a dog from anesthesia, it doesn't seem to matter what they give me. I just throw up for hours afterward and you know what? my youngest son is the same way. I don't know why. But I think if a nurse had the gall to say that to me I'd have to throw up on her shoes!