Last Operation?

After the two previous wound vac changes done bedside, today's procedure was scheduled for the OR again.  The expectation was that they might be doing more suturing and closing some of the remaining portion of the incision wound.  But when they got Shirley in, they determined that the healing was progressing sufficiently that sutures would not likely be needed. They were glad the procedure was done in the OR, as they found a couple of spots on bone that they needed to debridement.

In a post-procedure consult with Dr. Chung, we learned the following:

• One of the two wound vac tubes was removed.  So Shirley is down to 3 total tubes!
• The sutures around the original edges of the incision were removed and things are healing nicely.
• Friday, during the next scheduled wound vac change, they will do the procedure bedside and will possibly remove the sponge that is part of the wound vac and replace with "wet to dry" gauze (a layer of gauze saturated in saline and a dry gauze on top).  
• He also suggested that she is getting ever closer to being ready for transfer to the rehabilitation unit for intensive physical and occupational therapy.
• They expected that even if the next change required another sponge and wound vac, that the procedure would be bedside and no more operations should be needed.*

It was all very positive. And Shirley was even feeling better about how sore her chest felt once she understood that they had worked on her rib and sternum.

* well, there still is that issue of the gall bladder that will eventually have to come out, but that is likely several weeks or months down the road.

Think happy thoughts and smile with us on this encouraging news.