EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is a surgery used to treat varices that form -- they send a scope down to look at the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. If varices are found (of a certain size, or "grade") they will band them to cut off blood flow.
Subject: Patrick Surgery
Patrick's surgery went well. They found the varices and
needed to band them in the lower third of his esophagus. She saw varices
with wale signs...which meant they were about to bleed...no telling as to when
they would have ruptured. We more than likely would not have made it
until November. She could not completely eradicate them but they should
slough.
She told us that this would be the first in a series of endoscopies/banding and would need to return in 3 months again to do this. She took a series of biopsies to send off to test for cancers, celiac (which has already tested negative), sugar disorders...we'll know these results in about a week as she still cannot explain the diarrhea.
Last
week I contacted a doctor at the Children's Hospital of Chicago (the first in
North America to perform this surgery) and he contacted me within 40
minutes....this surgery is the only possible cure to Patrick's portal
hypertension but has some pretty steep risks. The surgery is about 5
hours long and he would have to be an ideal candidate. This doctor has
performed this 200 times and has had a 91% success rate. We need to
follow up when we get back and forward all medical records.
Patrick
is doing well...snuggled up next to me drinking hot chocolate....love these
snuggle times with my sweet little guy!
Thank you for the prayers....
Danielle and Crew
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