My husband underwent a carotid endarterectomy at Columbia on January 22nd with Dr. Connolly (neurosurgeon). There was a complication (his neck started to swell considerably) and he had to be taken back to the O.R. I was at wit's end!!!!
The neurosurgeon determined that it was NOT a hematoma, but a seroma (most likely a reaction to the antibiotic-impregnated sutures used to close the incision). He had seen this reaction before in some patients.
He cleaned up the area, removed the sutures and replaced them with regular sutures. Now, my husband needs to take the antibiotics by mouth for a week.
Everything is stable now. He was in the PACU (Recovery Room) for two days and then the Neurological ICU (intensive care unit).
He has been transferred from the Neurological ICU to a neurosurgical unit now.
He still has some swelling in his neck, but it is stabilized.
We are still waiting for a bed in an acute rehab hospital. Kessler, Helen Hayes, JFK Rehab all have refused to accept him.
It’s like trying to apply to an elite Ivy League university with a pretentious Admissions committee.
I keep praying. I know God will put him where He wants to put him.
It's been a long and winding road, but Shearwood and I are still here and hoping for the best.
Just today, (thank God) he was transferred to an acute rehab hospital (Burke). It's one of the best in the country. However, the doctor was SO NEGATIVE about his prognosis. I told her to just do her best and God will take us the rest of the way. She was such a Debbie-Downer.
I had some cookies. It was like I needed something to counteract all the aggravation, negativity and down-right frustration all of this has caused my husband and ME!!
Anyway, it was 68 degrees today and it was a nice day to be discharged from the hospital. God is good!!
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