***Note the corrected name of the procedure
Tom came thru with flying colors. The doctors actually performed a double-arterialgram, one down each leg. In the right hip, they implanted a stent in an aneurysm and the left leg was clear. Dr. Cook (Cookie) says this was all in preparation for the "inevitable" (my term) surgery to correct the two Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA). Tom plans to go ahead with that surgery in the next 10 days or so (to heck with the dove hunting; with all the rain and lightning in E. Wash, all the doves have migrated to Mexico anyway).
After the surgery, he'll have a 5 to 6 day hospital stay and quite probably a couple weeks in rehab. The rehab is for our peace of mind. He would have 24 hour nursing care and experts at getting patients of Tom's anatomy out of bed, and up and moving. I might not be able to do it and I would worry myself sick 24-hours a day!
The aorta lies near the spine. Dr. Cook would have to go thru "lots of tissue", move all Tom's innards aside, and then repair the aorta. The surgery would take 2 to 2-1/2 hours during which the aortic blood flow to the legs would be shut off. With the good flow Tom now has via the new stent, he shouldn't have any problems in that arena.
Dr. Cook pretty much ruled out the stents in Tom's AAA case because of his "stature". He also believes the currently used stents would leak. The new stents, not yet FDA approved, might last 2-3 years (no history) and then require the surgery anyway. The new stents have some unknown factors.
Tom is ready to have the AAA surgery done and the worry over. I am ready to agree.
We're resting all day Friday. (I might check in on Frank who is undergoing the torn minuscus routine.)
Pat cooked us steak, corn and baked potatoes for dinner tonight. He's a good kid and has been a pleasure to have around during this stressful time. Thanks for sharing him, Allison.
More soon. Ciao!
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