Ashley Katzakian, of Lodi, was 20 weeks into her being pregnant when she was referred to UC Davis Kids’s Hospital. An ultrasound had revealed a possible difficulty together with her creating child’s coronary heart.
“We have been referred to the UC Davis Fetal Care and Remedy Heart and our child was recognized with Tetralogy of Fallot,” stated Katzakian. “The physician advised us that the child would require surgical procedure when she was nonetheless an toddler. My husband and I puzzled what this is able to imply, each short- and long-term, for our daughter. We needed her to have the ability play sports activities or dance or do something another baby may do.”
Staff UC Davis Kids’s Hospital
A congenital coronary heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a mix of 4 associated coronary heart defects that happen collectively. The result’s that too little blood reaches the lungs and the remainder of the physique.
The Katzakians have been reassured by UC Davis fetal and pediatric heart specialist, Jay Yeh, that extremely certified surgeons would carry out the mandatory procedures and their baby wouldn’t be restricted by her coronary heart situation. However first issues first … the surgical procedure. And the delivery.
“Dr. Yeh instilled confidence in us that we have been in the suitable place and that our daughter was in good fingers,” Katzakian stated. “We transferred care to UC Davis Well being.”
Dr. Yeh instilled confidence in us that we have been in the suitable place and that our daughter was in good fingers. We transferred care to UC Davis.”—Ashley Katzakian
The countdown begins: Child Adelyn’s arrival
For the Katzakians, the subsequent 19 weeks have been wrought with fear, however the child – who can be named Adelyn – held on till 39 weeks and 6 days. She was a shiny pink, wonderful bundle when she arrived on Jan. 18, 2022. Mother and pop bought 25 minutes together with her their daughter earlier than the UC Davis Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) workforce whisked her away.
Child Adelyn was monitored within the NICU for her coronary heart situation for 13 days earlier than going residence to develop greater and stronger earlier than her surgical procedure. She was additionally given remedy and a stent was positioned to maintain her ductus arteriosus open.
Each child is born with a ductus arteriosus – a gap between the 2 main blood vessels main from the guts. It normally closes by itself, however Adelyn wanted it to remain open to have sufficient blood movement to the lungs so she may safely depart the hospital and are available again in three to 6 months for surgical procedure.
She was enrolled within the hospital’s residence monitoring program for advanced congenital coronary heart illness sufferers in order that she may very well be intently monitored 24/7. This program was the primary of its variety in Northern California.
Adjustments to the gameplan: Hospitalization and surgical procedure ahead of anticipated
“We have been at residence for about two weeks when her oxygen ranges dropped,” Katzakian stated. “Dr. Yeh advised us to come back to the Pediatric Emergency Division. Adelyn was hospitalized and we spent three days within the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PICU/PCICU).”
Adelyn was launched from the PICU/PCICU and the Katzakians returned residence to Lodi. At a follow-up appointment with Yeh on Feb. 28, the now 5-week-old child was again once more for low oxygen ranges. After assessing the choices, medical doctors determined to maneuver ahead with the guts procedures, which have been already deliberate.
Chief of pediatric cardiology and co-director of the Pediatric Coronary heart Heart, Frank Ing, was first up. A specialist in utilizing less-invasive strategies to deal with coronary heart and vascular situations in kids, Ing positioned a patent ductus arteriosus plug to shut the ductus arteriosus.
As soon as Adelyn was stabilized, medical doctors addressed the TOF restore.
Subsequent up was UC Davis pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Gary Raff. The plan was to carry out a full restore of the TOF coronary heart defects – widening or changing the pulmonary valve and enlarging the passage from the suitable ventricle to the pulmonary artery and shutting the massive gap between the ventricles.
“Ready [for the surgery to be over] was excruciating. It appeared to take ceaselessly,” Katzakian stated. “After which when it was over, we went from reduction to panic when have been advised there have been post-surgical issues.”
Staff gamers save the day by saving Adelyn
“It was an easy restore of the TOF. Nothing out of the abnormal,” Raff stated. “All the things appeared tremendous, however throughout restoration within the PICU, the care workforce seen that Adelyn had some vital stomach distension that interfered together with her potential to ventilate.”
The workforce took motion.
“It appeared like each member of the PICU employees was there in her room,” Katzakian stated. “It was overwhelming, however we may see how decided they have been.”
Raff instantly opened Adelyn’s chest. He didn’t discover something there to clarify why this was occurring. On the backside of the chest incision, he gained entry to her stomach. There was loads of bleeding from the stomach.
“I used to be in a position to launch all that blood from the stomach and bought the pediatric surgeons within the room inside minutes,” Raff stated. “Working with the pediatric surgical procedure workforce, we got here up with a plan, deciding to not open the incision any additional however as an alternative, monitor her intently for the subsequent few hours to see if the bleeding stopped.” It did.
Adelyn’s chest remained open for the primary week of restoration and Katzakian stated not having the ability to maintain her little lady was one of many hardest components of what had already been an extended journey.
“I puzzled how our power held out,” Katzakian stated. “I’m not positive how we bought by means of it, however we did. And extra importantly, so did Adelyn.”
Raff mirrored on all that had occurred up to now.
“If somebody tells you there are by no means any issues, they aren’t being sincere,” Raff stated. “The bleeding we noticed was not regular after surgical procedure. However having an skilled workforce that may quickly acknowledge uncommon or sudden points is vital.”
Child Adelyn spent three weeks within the hospital following her preliminary surgical procedure. By now, it was nearly April.
Sport’s not over but: One other coronary heart surgical procedure
At Adelyn’s follow-up appointment in July, the Katzakians bought extra sudden information: their daughter wanted one other coronary heart surgical procedure. Scarring had developed on the web site of the patch used to enlarge the pulmonary artery that was positioned throughout her preliminary surgical procedure. As soon as once more, Adelyn wanted care on her personal timeline.
“Adelyn is an instance of a kid with critical coronary heart illness who has been thrown quite a few curve balls,” Raff stated. “As a care workforce, we now have to hit these pitches. At UC Davis Kids’s Hospital, we now have a really skilled workforce that was in a position to do this.”
This time round, all went easily and child Adelyn, now nearly six months outdated, spent solely six days within the hospital.
Adelyn is an instance of a kid with critical coronary heart illness who has been thrown quite a few curve balls. As a care workforce, we now have to hit these pitches. At UC Davis Kids’s Hospital, we now have a really skilled workforce that was in a position to do this.”—Gary Raff, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon
Adelyn and UC Davis for the win
“If we needed to do it over again to have Adelyn in our lives, we might,” Katzakian stated. “This child is one thing else. She is rising into a tremendous one who has zero chill! She’s so busy and spunky and humorous. Nothing goes to maintain her down. Our lady is the very best!”
Katzakian says the identical in regards to the care workforce who she believes offered the very best high quality care, regardless of the challenges.
“I really feel very strongly that UC Davis Kids’s Hospital is the very best,” Katzakian stated. “My daughter is right here due to the unbelievable workforce, together with Dr. Yeh. He’s the rationale we got here to UC Davis to start with.”
Ultimate rating: Adelyn – 1 … 12 months outdated, that’s, as of January 2023. Joyful Birthday!
I really feel very strongly that UC Davis Kids’s Hospital is the very best. My daughter is right here due to the unbelievable workforce, together with Dr. Yeh. He’s the rationale we got here to UC Davis to start with.”—Ashley Katzakian
