New Subclavian Line

Annie went to the operating room this morning at 8:00am to get her PICC line placed under general anesthesia. The PICC team tried and failed at getting the line started in her arm, so they called in a general surgeon.  The general surgeon also failed at starting the PICC line in her arm.  At that point the surgeon came out to talk to Justin to tell him that they are going to have to put a central line in her jugular vein in her neck, but that there are risks with that--like puncturing her lung which would require a tube in her lung to keep it inflated!  Yikes!  But fortunately, instead, they actually ended up placing a subclavian line (a central line inserted near her collar bone that runs to just above her heart).

So now we don't have to worry anymore about her IVs failing every day and causing painful swelling.  She can also now start to receive more concentrated TPN with more lipids, calories, proteins, calcium, and nutrients.  (After holding her yesterday for so long, I was stunned to realize really how thin her arms and legs have gotten!)  The subclavian line will also allow them to take blood without more pokes.  So hopefully she can start to gain a little bit more strength.  She was fully intubated and under general anesthesia for the procedure and then in the recovery room for about an hour to monitor her breathing after being extubated.  She's been in a lot of pain again this morning with a raspy and hoarse cry from the intubation, so they are giving her morphine to keep her comfortable.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers--that she can start showing an improvement in fighting off this c-diff.