bkdaniels
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Jun 11, 2005, 2:12 PM
Post #2 of 2
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Cameron's Story... (Quote courtesy of cameron-g.com)
Shortly after his birth on December 12, 1991, Cameron was diagnosed with Tetrology of Fallot (TOF). He had his first open-heart surgery when he was two years old. Complications that followed became serious enough to require another surgery one week later.
He gradually regained his strength, recovered from the back-to-back procedures, and his health improved steadily over the next couple of years. Just before his sixth birthday during a routine check-up, the doctor informed us that it was time to replace Cameron's pulmonary valve. Shortly there after, it was removed and replaced with an artificial valve. By the time he was seven, the valve once again needed to be replaced due to leakage and poor function.
Six years have passed since the second valve replacement surgery was successfully performed and Cameron has outgrown the tiny valve.
In order to maintain it's function, his heart is in need of a new valve of larger proportion. Open-heart surgery number five approaches and our optimism remains in full force as we look forward to another successful surgery!
Hey Guest (cameron-g), how are you doing?
Total correction is ultimately advisable for almost all patients with tetralogy of Fallot. However, if cyanosis or symptoms are marked in an infant of young child, the risk of primary repair may be high unless performed in a center prepared properly for intracardiac surgery, and a palliative operation designed to increase pulmonary blood flow.
These procedures include aortopulmonary or subclavian-pulmonary arterial anastomosis or transventricular infundibulectomy or valvulotomy. Total correction can then be carried out at a lower risk later in childhood.
Among the factors that may complicate the management of patients with tetralogy are iron-deficiency anemia, subacute bacterial endocarditis, paradoxic embolism, polycythemia, coagulation defects, and cerebral infarction or abcess. The paroxysmal cyanotic spells may respond quickly to oxygen, placing the child in the in the knee-chest position, and morphine.
If spell persists, metabolic acidosis will develope from prolonged anaerobic metabolism, and infusion of sodium bicarbonate may be necessary to interupt the attack. Vasopressors, B-adrenergic blockage, or general anesthesia may occasionally be necessary.
Infundibular stenosis occurs as the only major site of obstruction to right ventricular outflow in about one-half the patients and coexists with valvular obstruction in another 25 percent. A right-sided arotic knob, arch, and decending aorta occur in approximately 25 percent of patients with tetralogy of Fallot.
When resting after exertion, patients with tetralogy characteristically assume a squatting posture. Spells of severe Anoxia and cyanosis constitute a major threat to survival.
Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital
Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!
Doctor: I am, bit by bit.
-- Aha! Jokes
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