Saturday, September 4, 2010

More on her heart


Dear Friends,
We are expecting a pediatric cardiologist sometime tonight to do another ultrasound of Madeline’s heart. Please pray for a good ultrasound. The main areas of concern are:

1. A small left ventricle on her heart
2. A possible interrupted or narrowing of the aortic arch
3. A vsd (hole in her heart between the left and right ventricles).

I thought some pictures might help.


This is a picture of what an interrupted aortic arch looks like. In an normal heart the aorta leaves the heart, feeds the upper body and then curves down to the lower body. It makes a candy cane shape. In an interrupted arch, the aorta as it leaves the heart is not connected to descending aorta that feeds the lower body. In utero there is an additional “jumper” artery the connects the Pulmonary Artery to the descending Aorta called a PDA. The PDA normally closes off in the first day or two after the baby is born, they are giving her a drug that helps keep the PDA open.

We are praying today that the aortic arch is in good shape. The doctors may want to wean Madeline off her drugs and allow the PDA to start closing. When this closes, Madeline and her heart will be on her own. The doctors would only do this if they felt her heart can handle it. Pray for good news concerning this.

Grace,
Shanker & Lisa

No comments:

Post a Comment