Trip 2

My Summary

November 26-28 2007

This time my mom made the trip with me. We arrived in Denver on the 26th and went downtown to see Dr. Reed. No singing this time, just a quick check up. After checking in at the Marriott, we made our way to Stephanie's house to have some yummy cheesecake that a friend had sent her from Brooklyn!

Went to the hospital the next morning, checked in, did all the prep work, and off to surgery I went. Didn't talk with Dr. Yakes this time, but caught a glimpse of him in the "control room" as they took me into the OR.

Again, everyone was super nice. The anesthesiologist gave me the same wonderful cocktail and I woke up feeling as good as can be expected. Stayed the necessary amount of time due to the angio cut, ate my jello and drank some juice, and was on my way back to the hotel!

We had learned from the first trip that there really was no need to stay in Denver the extra day, so the day after treatment we were on our way back home. We had a layover in Las Vegas which sucked. Grody smoking and it's just dirty. Plus the stupid Southwest lady almost wouldn't let me preboard! So I've pretty much decided to boycott LV as the stop over for these trips. Nothing like getting pissed off when you already feel sore and weak from surgery!

Lots of bruising this time around. And I seemed to continuously have new bruises popping up as the older ones disappeared. I even ended up with bruising on my chest (I guess from the angio?) which surprised me and stayed green forever!

continue to Trip 3

Medical Mumbo Jumbo

Indication: Left facial and mandibular arteriovenous malformation, massive arteriovenous malformation, pain syndrome, intermittent bleeding

Report of Operation

Operation: Bilateral head and neck arteriogram procedure; repair of left facial arteriovenous malformation and mandibular malformation repair procedure.

Complications: None

Estimated Blood Loss: Less than 5 ml.

Operation Notes: ...Utilizing a micropuncture set, access to the right common femoral artery is achieved and a 4- French Terumo glidecatheter is advanced over a wire from the right common femoral artery to the right external iliac artery, right common iliac artery, abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, aortic arch, right innominate artery, right common carotid, left external carotid artery, left facial artery, left internal maxillary artery, left inferior alveolar artery. Arteriograms are performed documenting the massive AVM involving the left mandible and the facial area.

Direct puncture is performed in the left mandibular facial area with an 18 gauge needle and access of the malformation is accomplished, contrast injected, angiogram performed and the study reviewed. Three 10 mm diameter fibered Nester coils and two 8 mm diameter fibered Nester coils were utilized to treat that compartment. Second compartment was then accessed percutaneously in the left facial area, contrast injected, angiogram performed and the study reviewed. One 10 mm fibered Nester coil was utilized to treat that compartment. Thrombosis was documented.

Control angiogram was performed in the internal maxillary artery which demonstrated further AVM reduction, residual AVM present and normal branches remaining intact.