What's Ayden get for turning 4 months old? A catheterization!

Tomorrow, on the day he turns four months old (four months old!), Ayden goes in for his first (and hopefully only) pre-Glenn catheterization, with a little electrophysiology (EP) study thrown in afterward for flavor.  Instead of going to clinic on Monday as usual, we took him in today so we could meet with Dr. Janssen and Dr. Fish to discuss what they will be doing tomorrow.  Our more astute readers will recognize Dr. Fish's name - he is the electrophysiologist who has been treating Ayden's arrhythmia issues.

Ayden also got the usual round of vitals, weighing, etc. (he's up to 13 lbs., 9 ozs. - in other words, he's fat), plus an EKG.  All of that went relatively smoothly, which is to say he only got slightly pissed off.  The real fun began when it was time to draw blood for the lab work needed in preparation for the cath.  Of course, based on what tests were needed, a simple heel prick would not suffice.  Instead, Ayden got his first experience of having blood drawn the regular way: with a needle. (When he was in the hospital, there was always some form of access - a PICC line, and IV, an RA line - that could be used to draw blood.  If only that option had been available today).  Let's just say he did not find the experience to be enjoyable.  He pitched a fit like he never has before, beginning immediately upon the nurse merely starting to tie the elastic band around his arm and not stopping until well after the needle had come out.  She didn't get enough blood for all the tests on the first go round, but he got so upset (he was to the point of shaking) that Drs. Fish and Janssen decided it was best to just get whatever they needed tomorrow during surgery prep, after he's been sedated.

Back to tomorrow.  I don't fully understand all Dr. Janssen will be looking for, but the gist of it is he'll be checking for things that would make the Glenn more difficult, such as extra vessels that could compromise his post-Glenn bloodflow, vessels that aren't yet big and/or strong enough, etc.  Some things he will actually be able to treat tomorrow if he finds them.  Others may indicate Ayden isn't yet ready for the Glenn.  After Dr. Janssen is done, Dr. Fish will take over and do a quick EP study.  There has been no recurrence of SVTs, but since the catheters will already be in there, Dr. Fish wanted to take the opportunity to make sure the extra electrical pathways he ablated a little over two months ago (two months ago!) are not healing and able to conduct again.

If everything goes well and there are no surprises, the whole process should take around 3.5 hours.  We have to be there at 7 a.m. (uggh), so we are hoping Ayden will be up in the PCCU by lunchtime and he will only have to stay in the hospital for observation for one night.  As I have done twice before, I will post updates here tomorrow as we get them, so you can check back over the course of the morning to follow his progress.  Please keep him in your prayers.