We just got a call from the doctor, and they may have something on which to focus their energies. His most recent chest x-ray showed some air in an area where there had previously been no lung tissue. This points to a possible abscess in the chest cavity, which would provide both a location for infection and a reason for its effects on his respiratory system. Tomorrow they will take him for a CT scan to get a better look at the area; while they're there, they'll also take a closer look at his abdomen. The reason they're waiting until tomorrow is so that they can wean the ventilator settings and get him more stable for transport. If the abscess is confirmed, they will try to drain it...I'm not sure if that would happen in radiology, or if they would wait until the CT was complete.
Though this certainly isn't a good problem to have, we are happy that they have a possible source for Andrew's continuing issues; we prefer to know what we're facing, rather than dealing with continued mystery. However, we also have to keep in mind that they've suspected an abscess in the same spot before, and further tests revealed nothing of concern. I think this time the suspicion is likely more accurate...we'll see what the tests show tomorrow.
Andrew's most recent blood gases have been better, and he seems to be more comfortable on the sedative drip. He's already starting to wriggle a bit, which might require refinement of his dosage. He's always had a high tolerance for narcotics....let's hope he never develops a post-NICU drug habit. He's had a good day so far, and we hope it continues until we can deal with the abscess and any other outstanding issues.
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