ECMO.....

Evynn did not have a successful heart catheter, although they did manage to place the stent in her IVC.  She arrested 4 times and had many more complications. The last arrest was over 20 mins but full chest compressions with good cardiac output. Her heart was not beating on it's own. She was put on ECMO extra corporeal membrane oxygenation, portable heart by-pass. The chances of her surviving because she is a 'failing Fontan, post transplant on ECMO' is very slim. No one is sure if she still is in that category or in her own as they have not had to put anyone on ECMO 14 days post transplant. When she was brought back to CCCU her heart was still not beating.  ECMO is keeping blood going the her organs and brain. Withan hour it her heart began beating but at an extremely low rate of 50.  Her heart is being paced at 130. She is being treated for fungal uti, which was the infection that cancelled her surgery and added in an unsecessful procedure.  She remains on many medications. She is being muscle relaxed. They allowed her to off the relaxer for a few hours and she moved her limbs and mouthed 'water'.  Small victory. For now the plan is to wait and rest her heart. It will be a few days before anyone can give us a better sense of survival. Her surgeon has promised if he feels we are in a prolonging death situation he will tell us. For now he says we need to wait. Wait...