?downhill after surgery

[smitty]

Hi,
Mom had endoscopic surgery in her abdomen to look at shunt tubing for blockage on 1/31, and when they took the tubing out it was draining so they really didn't have to do anything. But...since then she has continously declined, she can remember year and month, most of the time, but not today,her short term memory is terrible, whereas before the surgery it was pretty good. I got a cat scan done on Wednesday, and the NS didn't see it yet, because he is out of town until Monday, but the covering Dr saw it and said that the ventricles were larger than the previous cat scan which was done about a month ago, he wanted to take her new shunt codman(Dec20,2007)and replace it with a regular non adjustable shunt, I really don't know this guy but that seems extreme, so her NS will be back on Monday and look at her CAT scan and then let us know. I know it sounds weird, but could the tubing maybe have a kink and when they took it out it was straight enough to drain, I just don't know what to think. Is it crazy to suggest another shunt study, theres obviously something not right here.
Any ideas? Smitty

[Love My 7 GEMS]

I don't know...but I'd be pretty anxious to have her reevaluated and something done sooner rather than later! I do suppose the tubing could have gotten kinked, but I think they are extra careful when they put it in just so kinking DOENS'T happen...but maybe a search on shunt tubing kinks in the abdomen might give you some hits onto how often it takes place, and give you either more amunition to go back and ask them to recheck that, or to calm your mind (in a weird way) that it's "Just" the shunt...and the tubing is fine.

But, with all the changes in cognitive ability, I personally woundn't wait long, and to me, Monday is too long.

Dori

[CathyE]

I think I have read that an anesthetic can cause memory decline?
Is that a possibility? Maybe it affects older patients more?

Or, what setting is you mom at? Is there room for a setting change to drain more?
I'm guessing since the new NS wanted to do a revision, there isn't.

I hope she starts improving again and soon!
Hugs,
Cathy