I am describing the procedure my mother underwent on October 14, 2004 in
layman’s terms. The procedure was implemented to investigate and repair
restrictions to her arteries supplying blood to her right am and brain on the
right side. The arteries in question are located under the collar bone.
First the medical team snaked instruments through her arteries starting in the
right groin area. They worked their way through the heart and to the problem
area. What they found is that a section of the artery supplying blood to her
right arm was blocked 99% right near the junction where blood is routed to both
the brain and the right arm. This blockage was a big, hard calcium deposit (the
doc called it a rock). The before photo is an x-ray of mom’s right shoulder with
dye in the arteries showing where blood is flowing. Right in the middle of the
picture is an area where the right side and the left side don’t appear
connected. That is where the blockage was. Right where the blockage is, there
should be an artery going up the picture to the brain. None is visible. The
large artery going up the picture is an artery in the front the body (carotid)
also supplying blood to the brain. This artery is fine and shows up only as a
hazy background image in the after image.
The surgical team tried to drill through the calcium deposit and break it up
into small enough parts to remove it. They were unable to do this and broke a
drill bit in the attempt. After several attempts they succeeded in expanding the
artery with bigger and bigger balloons until they shoved the calcium deposit to
the side and installed a stint to keep it open. They installed another stint on
the other side of the artery junction to keep the junction open.
In the after picture, the junction is fully widened and the artery to the arm is
full of blood, the artery going up the picture into the brain is fully visible
(the carotid is still there, but fuzzy in the background from this camera
angle). The artery from the middle of the picture to the bottom that feeds the
breast area is now fully visible and so are a bunch more arteries. Amazingly to
me, mom felt better THE DAY AFTER surgery than the day before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before Photo - Large Image 1.5 megs |
|
Shows blocked area and limited flow to arteries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After Photo - Large Image 1.5 megs |
|
Shows unblocked arteries and restored flow. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunch - Bob, Debbie & Hector going home day |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sneak preview - A happy ending. Done & ready to go home! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the beginning. Lobby waiting to prep. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More waiting. We haven't started anything but paperwork yet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discussing prep for procedure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Now, do we want to sign this? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We might as well, we came this far. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cool room and mom does blankets. Debbie opts for coffee. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the coffee seems to have worked. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mom's finally on her way. Time for lunch. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ok, waiting while real stuff is going on. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINALLY - Mom's done and in a room. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She seems fine and in good shape. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue thing is a hot air warmer. She's been in a meat locker for 4 hours. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not supposed to sit up, but wolfs down a sandwich, banana and tea. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hmmm... Right hand isn't blue anymore! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just relax, I'll take care of everything. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seems fine to me, let's go home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ok, well into day two and mom's dressed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waiting again and now it's silly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So what's the holdup. I don't know, maybe I should start rewiring the room. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waiting... some happy, some tired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob's rewiring the room. That will get us kicked out or killed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I feel fine and am going to make a break for it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patient pick up zone. Hector deployed in SUV. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We made it! Bob, Hector, Debbie, PeeWee and Mom on the way out. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PeeWee thinks Mom needs a hug |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So, that turned out pretty well, huh? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
