Diagnosis

Today at our cardiologist appointment we received a diagnosis on baby boy's heart. He has been diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta which basically means that there is a narrowing of the major artery from the heart to the body. The narrowing decreases the blood flow to the body and makes the heart pump harder against the smaller then normal opening. The repair for this is generally pretty simple it is done through the left side of the chest. The most likely option is called an 'end to end anastomosis' where the narrowed portion of the aorta is cut out and the two ends are sewn together. This procedure will happen about 3 days after birth. In baby's case he also may have a problem with the lower portion of the Aorta where the blood flows from the left ventricle it should be about 4 mm at this point and is only 2-3mm this is something that is rather hard to measure while still in the womb and will be reassessed (as with everything else) at birth. The fix for this is not as easy and would require open heart surgery if this needs to be done both issues will be repaired in one surgery about 3 days after birth. The latter is a much more complex issue and there are many factors that will lead the cardiologists to what they will do in this case. For the most part our baby boy should live a normal life other than this hurdle at birth, he will need to see a card once a year to make sure the repairs are holding up but still should run and play and do what boys do. We have another appointment October 7 and will have another Echo Cardiogram and speak with the cardiologist again hopefully leading us closer the the birth plan. I will be delivering at the U of U and baby will immediately be transported to the NICU at Primary Children's hospital when he gets there he will get a line to his umbilical cord to start nutrition and a medicine to stop a valve from closing in his heart. I will not be able to feed him until after the surgery. We are very scared and anxious to see what is next as a problem solver I keep thinking well maybe we can fix this, lets do this...etc. I just hope that my beautiful daughter doesn't feel to neglected she will certainly be shuffled around from family member to family member so that I am able to get to the hospital to see our son. As soon as he is stable, eats on his own and breaths with out oxygen he can come home the average stay is about a month :*(
Click the link for more info on Coarctation of the Aorta
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site520/printerfriendlypageS520P0.html