Lookin' towards a healthy future
Shell writes:
We hope to schedule Barney's surgery some time in December,
but that's still to be determined. It will almost certainly be done at
Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Clinic,
one of a handful of specialty practices
able to do this type of surgery.
We did have a pre-surgical consult there;
here is what we know that is new . . . .
A couple of weeks prior to the surgery, he will be started on lactulose,
an antibiotic and Kepra. Apparently, seizures are a very big concern
with this surgery and the research has shown that starting Kepra
(Levetiracetam) prior to surgery helps to prevent seizures afterwards.
The extent of the shunt will not really be known until they open him up.
Depending on his anatomy and the shunt,
they will either use a ring to tie off the vessel, or use cellophane.
Either way, part of the ring is slowly absorbed into the body over time.
After the surgery he will be kept in the hospital for two to three days
because that is the time that he is most likely to have seizures,
and they will need to be able to respond immediately.
I'M READY FOR THE HOWLIDAYS, THANKS TO CRUSA!
He will have stitches for two weeks,
and have to be restricted in his activity
for another two weeks after that,
to make sure that the ring does not get dislodged,
causing blood clots or other problems with blood flow.
After the stitches are out,
there is no additional ultrasound or testing for three months,
to give the liver a chance to heal. Barney's liver is small,
but might regenerate or grow after the surgery when there is
adequate blood flow and a three-month blood panel
will be the first indication of success.
Barney will need to remain on a low-protein diet for the rest of his life.
| 
