Wait and See

They are prepping and are almost ready to start her bronch right now. I talked to the ECMO nurse and he said that there are blot clots starting in the arterial line (there is one line flowing out of her chest going to the ECMO and then there is the second line (arterial) that flows into her chest) It is dangerous when there are clots in the arterial line because there is no where for them to go other than into her heart. So the choices are to decannulate or change the ECMO circuit and at this point, they will not change the ECMO circuit again. So we have time working against us in that case. The ICU doctor just came and spoke to us and said that after her bronch he will talk to Dr. K and see what he wants to do. (He is currently in surgery) It is a decision of waiting until later where her lungs will have a better chance of working off ECMO, but with that waiting, we are risking the situation with the blood clots. So we will again, wait and see.....