More Dead Ends - vascular and hematology

February 5 2015

Today we saw the chief vascular surgeon at Greenville Hospital.  In his 16 years he has never seen a case like Patrick...Patrick is his first one.  

He said the type of portal hypertension that cause the varices in his esophagus is the most dangerous and the banding is the only treatment.  The endoscopies/bandings are necessary since there is no vascular surgery to cure the portal hypertension/vein thrombosis.  He reiterated that portal hypertension in kids is very rare and hard to manage.  Since there is no vascular option he suggests we continue the treatment plans with Duke and NIH.  

Hematology doctor called today and said that genetically there was nothing abnormal that came up to indicate Patrick has any other blood clotting disorders besides the factor 5.  The interesting thing is is that  the Factor 5 will thicken his blood but the portal hypertension makes his blood thin which then sends all of his blood counts into distress -- I guess they don't just cancel each other out to make things normal!  He also told us that the ultrasound showed no difference in comparison to his last one.

We head to Duke next week for surgery #3...Patrick is not looking forward to his surgery at all...he has already been getting anxious.

Please keep praying for Patrick, medical staff, and for the knowledge that they need to give him the best treatment for him in helping to have the most 'normal' childhood possible....he has great siblings, cousins, friends who understand 'how' to play with him so pray for these little people too.