Success!

7:15pm: Just had the debrief with Dr. Gruber.  He happily reported that the surgery went extremely well without any notable issues.  He noted that the aorta was extremely small (1.5mm) and this case went as well as any HLHS case he as done with an aorta that small.  Brida is getting an x-ray done now to confirm catheter placements.  The edema wasn't that significant, so he decided to close her chest up (they often keep the chest open for a day until the swelling is decreased).

Dr. Gruber noted that Brida is a fighter.  Usually there are issues with either pressures or arrhythmia, but she had neither.  They put her into circulatory arrest for 41 minutes (the maximum is 60 minutes) while they performed the complex parts where they couldn't have motion.  They protected the organs by systemic hypothermia.

He noted that we are not out of the woods yet because all HLHS babies struggle about 6 hours after surgery once the heart realizes the trauma it has received (kind of like how we feel good after a hard workout, but really ache that evening).  She will be on a ventilator for at least a couple of days (best case) and lots of drugs to maintain oxygen sat and pressure levels.  She will be sedated and won't be moving for at least a day.  We have been warned (and observed with other patients) that there will be lots of inflamation and she won't look the same (especially with all the tubes coming out of her).  If all goes well, they will start to wean her of the drugs and ventilator this weekend and try to get her to move tomorrow.

We expect to be invited back over to the CICU by 8:00 once they have her stabilized there.

Erin and I are elated at the great news.  Thank you all for your prayers!  God is great!