Thursday, April 16, 2009

In my April 9th entry, I wrote that Hunter will need a "G" tube surgically placed. He needs this tube due to a couple factors. The first factor being something called Tracheomalacia. That is the fancy name for underdeveloped swallowing muscles. The other factor is an oral aversion. Oral aversions can occur because when most babies are experiencing there positive and satisfying experience with a bottle, my baby's first oral experience was with a ventilator to keep him alive. This was not a postive, but negative experience, therefore creating an oral aversion. Those are the two main factors that are contributing to a feeding intolerance with Hunter.

We met with the surgeons. Hunter's surgery is scheduled for April 27th. If all goes according to plan, he will be admitted in the hospital for 2-3 days after surgery for observation. Hunter will need a ventilator for the surgery. Babies with Chronic Lung Disease can sometimes have difficulties coming off the ventilator after surgery. We don't suspect this will be problem, but it is definitely something to consider. If Hunter has a hard time coming off the ventilator after surgery, they will have a bed reserved in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for him. Again, this is a small chance since Hunter's lungs are doing a lot better.