[tri-med] Re: Gtube surgery

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Megoa22@xxxxxxx>
>>How does this all work -
> with the anesthesia do they put her on oxygen -

During the anaesthesia they will defintely be giving her oxygen, actually a
mix of gases. She may or may not need oxygen after she out of the surgery.
They will monitor her oxygen needs usually using a pulse oximeter. If you
havent encountered them before its a machine that has a probe. The probe has
a small light on one side and a receiver that measures the light on the
other side. Sometimes they clip them to a finger or a toe, but with small
babies they wrap it around the finger or toe, usually over the nail. The
light passes through the toe and is measured by the receiver on the other
side. How much light that gets through indicates the level of oxygen in the
blood (all worked out by this little machine - truly amazing stuff).

The reading on the machine is called the saturation level - sats for short.
If her sats are low they will give her oxygen as needed. This can be via a
mask, nasal prongs or what is called blow by - where they place the mask
near the babies face but not actually on it. (oxygen actually stays in a
pyramid before it disipates into the air so it sort of forms a tent around
the babies head)

A lot of people, even those with no other problems, use a little oxygen
after an anaesthetic because you breathe quite shallowly when you are
anaethetised. Its usually no big deal and actually just helps dilute the
anaesthetic left in their system.

If however you are really meaning will she be ventilated (that is will she
be attached to a machine that breathes for her) thats a question no one can
answer with any certainty. As Ann mentioned you may want to read my response
to her regarding ventilation.

>>How soon can she feed through the Gtube after the surgery?

When Alex had his g-tube placed I think from memory they waited a couple of
days before giving him very small amounts and gradually increasing the
amount and frequency. Alex also had a fundo and bowel surgery though so that
could have delayed when they attempted to feed him.

> Does it hurt her?

Does tube feeding hurt? Thats a good question!!! I know because I asked the
same thing!!!! To answer it I actually asked a few adults who had g-tubes
that were on the g-tube list. Alex is now 9 (as of 30 minutes ago!!!) and
quite verbal. He can now actually validate what I was told by these adults
years ago. No it doesn't hurt and no they cannot feel anything when they are
fed. I wondered if they felt the milk or food going into their stomach. Alex
and the other adults all agree that no they don't - they simply get a "full"
feeling.

However if they get food that is too hot or too cold yes it does hurt. They
tell me that its like getting a major cramp or stomach spasm as opposed to
feeling hot or cold.

Does the surgery hurt? I can't answer that one for sure as Alex hads
multiple procedures done when he had his g-tube placed. He did come out with
an epidural still in for pain control. That stayed for about 24 hours. Then
he was on a small amount of morphine via an IV for about 12 hours. But Alex
and morphine don't mix so that was discontinued and he had panadol (tylenol)
as needed, but we figured he didn't need it because he was showing no signs
of pain and crawling around the floor :-))

The apprehension you are feeling is completely normal!!! I know I felt so
many of the same concerns. In my case they were totally unfounded - but I
worried just the same. Listen to your heart and you mummy instinct - its
usually right!!

Sending you all my love and prayers while you are going through all this -
its not easy by any stretch of the imagination!!

We can not change the wind. But we can change the sails.
~Ghandi~

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (8 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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