10-hour procedure

Last night Lee's cardiac doctor came to talk to me around 10:30 p.m..  Lee had been taken to the lab for the mapping procedure shortly after 12:00 noon.  I had been told @ first to expect a 4-6 hour procedure and then when they came to get him, I was told that it would most likely take 6-8 hours and possibly longer.  Well, it was the possibly longer one.  Dennis, Betsy and I were able to literally "camp-out" in Lee's hospital room where we had reasonably comfortable furniture, a bathroom, the T.V. and even Lee's supper and snack.  Nobody bothered us and we had privacy as we waited for each 2-hour period when a nurse would call and give us Lee's status.  Throughout the procedure we were told that he was tolerating the procedure well.

A very tired doctor came to talk to us @ 10:30 p.m.  He had been working with Lee for 10 hours.  Good that he still looked young enough to endure a rough day like that.  I understand that Lee was his second case of the day and that he had begun his day @ 7:00 a.m.

He explained that they mapped both the right and the left atrium of the heart.  The right atrium was fairly easy to identify that part of the conduction system of the heart that was responsible for the flutter.  This was able to be ablated within about 4 hours.  Next they determined that they had to move to the left atrium.  This is a bit more risky in that they must perforate the
upper septum to enter the left atrium.  They were able to determine at least two main areas that were responsible for the atrial fibrillation.  One area extended all the way over to the far left side of the left atrium where the pulmonary veins enter the heart.  He explained that this is a common area of atrial fibrillation post lung transplant procedure,  It usually corrects itself over a short period of time.  It happens because of the way the pulmonary veins have to be sutured during the transplant procedure.  In Lee's case there was no indication that it was going to be resolved with medication and it just kept getting worse with time.

The atrial fibrillation was weakening his heart and he was progressively getting weaker and weaker.  In addition he was in chest pain and in time his new lung would begin to be affected by this irregularity.  (It already had with the collection of fluid that he had earlier in the week )
Heart mapping is a very complicated procedure that requires very sophisticated equipment and they have to literally "map" the conduction pathways of the atrium.  The doctor explained that they run in circles and the entire circle must be mapped.  That is just one reason it is so time-consuming.  Another thing they must do is cause Lee's heart to go into atrial fibrillation and then check the areas that are affected.  It takes hours to do this.

The good news is that Lee tolerated the procedure very well and is in the ICU for safety precautions because of his transplant.I just now got a call from the ICU nurse and Lee is being transported out of ICU to his room in 3304.  They are ordering his breakfast.  She said he is doing great and is breathing room air and is wide awake and hungry!  Now that is a good sign!  Guess I better get ready to go over there.

More Later.............................................................Brenda