Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) is a condition in which the valve that allows your blood to flow from the lower-right chamber (right ventricle) of your heart to your lungs (pulmonary valve) hasn't formed properly or is closed (atresia). Michael's was closed.
In children with PAIVS, the closed pulmonary valve prevents the baby's heart from pumping blood into the lungs to pick up oxygen. Blood must be sent to the lungs by another route to provide oxygen for the newborn.
PAIVS is diagnosed by conducting a variety of tests: cardiac catheterization (a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and is guided to the heart using x-ray imaging, this test takes pictures of the heart), echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), and chest x-rays. All three tests were done on Michael. He's had countless echocardiograms and chest x-rays.
A child who has PAIVS requires urgent medical evaluation once symptoms develop. There are many different treatments. Michael had a balloon valvotomy. Normally, this procedure is done with a catheter through the groin but Dr. D (cardiologist) and Dr. H (heart surgeon) did it with open heart surgery (OPS). After about 5 months, he had the same procedure done because his pulmonary valve had blockage but the second time they used a catheter, not OPS.
Some children may need a pulmonary valve repair or replacement later in life. Right now, Dr. D is confident that he can go until he's 5 or 6 before he needs more surgery. As of right now he WILL need more surgery but there is always the hope that he can bounce back and not need it at all.
As of his last cardiology checkup, he's getting better. The pressures in his heart are getting lower (which is a good thing) but only time will tell if he will or won't need surgery. I pray every night that he will keep progressing and keep getting better. He's a fighter and my little hero <3
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