Update on Natalie

Natalie had her first follow-up appointments and ultrasounds yesterday since her cath procedure.  After 4 hours, 3 ultrasounds, 2 visits to see Dr. B and peds surgery, and a visit with Dr. K.....

Report from Dr. K (cardiologist):

She weighs 8 lbs, 13 oz and is growing great!!  Her right atrium (which was very enlarged before the cath) is still slightly enlarged, but much smaller. Her pulmonary pressures are much lower, and her oxygen sats are 99%.  She still has a moderate sized ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), but there is a lot of excess tissue around it, and hopefully it will close on its own with time.  If it doesn't, she may need another cardiac catheterization to close it when she is 2 or 3 years old.  She will continue to have serial ultrasounds and echocardiograms every so often as she grows to check her heart function and pulmonary pressures. (At least, until the hemangioma shrinks drastically and doesn't pose as a threat to her circulation.  There is still a chance that, as she grows, other vessels that were too small to coil at this time, may grow and perfuse the hemangioma and cause issues.)

She is now off of all of her medications, including the baby aspirin.  Her leg is pink, warm and well perfused, but does not have a good pulse.  Dr. K thinks she probably lost her femoral artery, but there is still a small chance that, with time, the pulse may return and the artery will be fine.

She will have her next appointment in 6 months, unless she starts having issues and becomes symptomatic.

Report from Dr. B (surgeon):

Hemangioma is about the same size, maybe just a little smaller, but the blood flow inside of it is reduced.  Her liver is a little over 6cm in size, and the hemangioma is about 3.2cm- half the size of her liver.  There is no plan at this time to biopsy the hemangioma or resect her liver.  We will do another ultrasound in 6 months and follow the size and blood flow as she grows.

We are hoping and praying the hemangioma just dries up and shrinks, her ASD will close on its own, and that her femoral artery will open up and be okay.

So thankful for God's healing touch on our amazing little girl!!