please pray for this intention
Update from Matt’s Dad. 0430 Thu 10/27. Bad news. After initial optimism, Matthew’s
condition has steadily deteriorated overnight. Oxygen saturation has dropped
to mid-80% range. ECMO machine has not taken full effect. Doctors have
returned the ventilator to pre-ECMO levels, pumping large amounts of 100%
oxygen into his lungs. Pulse rate back up to 110, blood pressure low. Nurse
thinks he may have too much fluid, giving him diuretics. Giving him more units
of blood to increase red blood cell capability to transfer oxygen.
Cardiovascular team is on the way to the hospital to review and make surgical
adjustments. Currently Matthew is configured on the ECMO machine in a vein to
vein blood flow, which is less invasive and has fewer complications. They are
going to change the blood flow to an arterial to vein configuration, which
will allow maximum circulation of oxygenated blood. They will also keep him on
full ventilator until he recovers. Matthew in critical condition.
Here’s Wed (10/26) 2100
Good news, the ECMO procedure was a success. Matthew’s blood is now circulating through the machine. The doctors/nurses are currently working to balance out his new regimen of medications. The last step in the process is to insert a “main line” IV into his neck around 11:00PM to simplify and facilitate delivery of the many different types of medications and fluids that he must receive in the days ahead. So far, so good. His heart rate is down to 90, which is much improved. Blood pressure and hematocrit (red blood cell count) are a bit low, but that’s normal based on the fact that he has a significant amount of blood pumping outside his body right now. They’re giving him fluids and a blood transfusion to bring those vital signs up to an acceptable range. His oxygen saturation is at 90%, which is low but manageable via the EMCO machine. O2 saturation in his blood is the single key indicator that will tell us how quickly Matthew’s lungs are healing, and how quickly he is able to take over the functions of the machine with his own lungs. We should expect to see oxygen saturation increase slowly over time, with less and less help from the machine. Also, they’ve dropped the air pressure in his lungs, which has caused the air leak in his right lung to slow way down, and giving his lung a chance to heal. They are using the ventilator to move air in and out of his lungs at low pressure levels now, nice and gentle. Matthew has 24/7 in room medical attention, they’re keeping a lookout for any problems or side effects that might crop up (possible swelling of extremities, bleeding due to anti-coagulants). I also learned tonight that it’s a good thing Matthew “randomly” chose Virginia Hospital Center Emergency Room for treatment. This hospital is close to his apartment, but it also happens to be one of the few hospitals in the Washington D.C. area that perform open heart surgery, and therefore is one of the few hospitals that has a fully trained and EMCO qualified cardiovascular surgery team with all appropriate support equipment on site. Matthew is too sick to move, and we’re very lucky that they have EMCO capability here. The surgeon who performed the operation is the director and head of the cardiovasculer surgery center here at VHC. Matthew is receiving first rate medical care
Here’s the Wed (10/26) late afternoon update from the dad:
I just gave the cardiovascular surgeon our consent to place Matthew on a procedure known as ECMO, or heart-lung machine. Essentially, the doctors insert tubes in his veins that remove blood from one vein, clean and oxygenate it, then put it back in another vein, allowing him to stop breathing with his lungs. We felt this was a necessary next step in the treatment process because it has become increasingly clear that his lungs are not healing sufficiently on the respirator. He had a rough night last night, with a collapsed lung and a surgically implanted tube to remove air from his chest cavity. The discovery of a blod clot further complicates the treatment plan. Also, his heart rate is too high, he’s feverish constantly, his blood chemistry isn’t right, and his blood oxygen saturation remains low (90-92%) despite multiple days of 100% oxygen from the ventilator. His lungs need a rest. However the outlook is positive. ECMO treatment in young adults has a very high success rate, and he will be under 24/7 dedicated in-room monitoring of all body functions. We expect him to be on ECMO for several days to
maybe two weeks, until his lungs heal sufficiently to wean him off ECMO, then back on the ventilator via a tracheostomy, then eventually to his own lungs. Please pray for a successful surgical procedure and complication free recuperation. We’re ready to turn the corner now. God bless and thank you.
Please do pray for Matthew and his family ….
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