Update on Dad-August 29th 3:00PM

Just got a few emails from David with updates (the hospital is calling him for authorization on any procedures Dad needs. I'll just quote him here to update:

First email, from 11:50AM:

Hoag called me yesterday around 6pm to authorize a bronchoscopy to examine Dad’s left lung further. It was my understanding that it was intended to help evaluate the general condition of the lung and perhaps assist in removing some of the remaining fluids. They gave him some mild sedation to make this easier for all. Accordingly, Melinda and I went over a little later in the evening (9:30ish) in the hopes that he would be past the effects of the sedative but, he was still sleeping very deeply. Unfortunately, the nurse did not yet have any results to share of the earlier procedure.

I called a little while ago and spoke with today’s nurse, Marianne, who advised that I should be expecting a follow-up call from the Dr. who should be calling to request authorization of a different procedure to remove excess fluid from the area surrounding the lung - a potential procedure we were discussing yesterday. I am waiting on that call.

She further explained that under her watch he has been much more agitated and difficult the last two days and keeps trying to pull out the respirator tube. She told me she has had to sedate him several times because of this. This was the first time we have been told this. I explained that this has happened in the past and once he was able to speak again Dad had explained that he knew he had to have the tube but, there was something uniquely uncomfortable about it that caused the agitation and asked her to please take a look from that perspective.

Unfortunately, there is no sure way to know if he has just reached his tolerance point with this or, if there is a different level of discomfort that he is trying to convey…..


I’ll let you know what I learn once the Dr. calls.

2nd email, from 3:00PM:

I just spoke with Hoag a few minutes ago and authorized the insertion of a chest tube for Dad. The purpose of the tube is to act as a drain for the accumulated fluids in the chest cavity. The tech explained that when the patient's system is unable to process these naturally, they accumulate between the lung and the chest wall and effectively prevent the lung from filling as completely as one would hope. The more the lung is able to expand, the greater it's capacity to clear the junk inside. It's sort of a medical version of "it takes money to make money" ("it takes capacity to create capacity"!).

The procedure is done using a local anesthetic and presents minimal risk. The greatest danger would be that they might accidentally nick the lung. Fortunately, the solution for this......is to put in a chest tube.

Hopefully the chest tube will help his breathing and we can get the tube down his throat OUT.

More updates later.