A life without limits: She is out of Surgery!

Friday, March 25, 2011

She is out of Surgery!

I just got a call from the surgeon. I am still sitting in the surgery waiting room. He said the surgery went good. The right shunt was totally blocked. He used a new GPS system called the stealth guide to get a better position inside the ventricle. He ended up moving the sight down about a centimeter, so he had to drill a new hole in the scull and put in a whole new system. She will be in recovery for about 30 minutes before they call me down to see her.

5 comments:

UnknownMarch 25, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Glad things went well. Hope she recovers quick and makes it back to school soon. Paige misses seeing her in choir.
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JennieMarch 25, 2011 at 11:14 AM
I'm glad to hear things went well.
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SarahMarch 25, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Wow! You knew all along something wasn't right...mother's intuition. I'm glad they found what the problem was and are now finally all on the same page with you. I feel bad that Avri has had to suffer so long and I hope she feels better
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TroyMarch 26, 2011 at 1:32 AM
I worked last night and tonight...I will be working with Lily this weekend on her report. I will coordinate with Hattie and Tracee to see where she is at...
lots of love
Sharon
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KatieMarch 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Sharon, Thank you so much for helping Hattie. It is little things like a state report right now that seem to push me over the edge. I really, really appreciated it.
Thanks
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What is Hydrocephalus?

The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain.

The ventricular system is made up of four ventricles connected by narrow passages.. Normally, CSF flows through the ventricles, exits into cisterns (closed spaces that serve as reservoirs) at the base of the brain, bathes the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, and then reabsorbs into the bloodstream.

CSF has three important life-sustaining functions: 1) to keep the brain tissue buoyant, acting as a cushion or "shock absorber"; 2) to act as the vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste; and 3) to flow between the cranium and spine and compensate for changes in intracranial blood volume (the amount of blood within the brain).

The balance between production and absorption of CSF is critically important. Because CSF is made continuously, medical conditions that block its normal flow or absorption will result in an over-accumulation of CSF. The resulting pressure of the fluid against brain tissue is what causes hydrocephalus