Discharge from CICU and Cath. Lab Trip Reports

Brida started her day with a visit from the speech therapist to check her drinking functions.  She has good sucking response, but the therapist wanted to do a swallow study under fluoro to see if she is aspirating any fluids (getting fluid into her lungs).  At the same time that Brida was scheduled for the swallow study at the cath. lab, the post-surgical floor found her a bed and they started discharging her from the CICU.

The radiologist (Dr. Hedlund) allowed Sam to join Brida in the Cath. Lab.

I told the radiologist that I work for GE Healthcare, but that I wouldn't hold it against him that he was using a Phillips machine.  Brida didn't mind this first trip.  She had a good helping of barium.  The results of the test were mixed.  She swallowed well, but after drinking for 20-30 seconds she fatigued and aspirated into her lungs a little. It was a "quiet" aspiration, which means she didn't cough when it happened.

After the swallow test, we went directly to her new room in the post-surgical floor.  The doctor visited and, as a result of the swallow test, decided to change out her NG Tube for a NJ Tube.  The only difference is that the NG ends at the stomach and NJ goes into her intestines.  The NJ will be better for her because she will be less likely to spit up and aspirate into her lungs.  Aspiration  would not be good for her since it can cause pneumonia and a much longer hospital stay.  The downside of the NJ tube is that she won't get any food in her stomach and will always feel hungry. Because of the aspiration, Brida will not be able to drink from a bottle until she increases in strength and has a second swallow test in 2-3 weeks.

Coming up to the floor, I also ran into Deacon Dale.  He came to visit after getting a little lost since Brida was in the process of being relocated.  Deacon visited us for a while and gave Brida a blessing before he left.

Brida enjoying her new room.

After hanging out in her room and being held by her dad, Brida was called down to the Cath Lab for the second time to have the NJ tube put in.  Both Sam and Erin joined Brida for this trip.

Brida did not like this trip at all.  They had to hold her down while the catheter was being placed.  She calmed down afterwards.

You can see the final catheter placement in the image above.


Room with a View and Alpine Fire:
Brida's new room has a pretty good view.  In the second picture you can see smoke from a big fire that is raging in Alpine (just SE of Draper).

Alpine "Quail" Fire

As a side note, does anyone know why they are calling this a "Quail Fire"?

Trip Report:

Laurent, FYI, I am totally using this as a working day and this post is serving as my two trip reports to the cath. lab.