Hi all, surgery is in 13 days and I had my pre-op appointment this morning. Here is the low down...
ALIF L5-S1
LLIF T12-L5
PLIF T10-S1 with SI joint fixation both sides
The PA I was talking with said that they might need to use a chest tube during the lateral approach depending on if they need to enter the pleural space, a decision they won’t know if they need to make until they are in surgery. They said that if they need to do that they would need me to be in ICU for a day or so afterwards. The problem is that currently the ICU is packed full 50/50 with COVID and other patients. Therefor, if they think there is a strong chance they will need to use a chest tube, more than likely my surgery date will be pushed back and delayed.
I have mentally come to grips with another fusion. I have prepared every aspect of my life (work and personal) and I just want to get this over with, recover, and move on with my life. For my mental state and my anxiety I am crossing my fingers that surgery doesn’t get delayed. Is that weird? Don’t get me wrong the fear is still VERY previlant and VERY real but at the same time I have been waiting for so long that I just want to get it over with.
I should hear back from the surgeons office at the latest by tomorrow at the end of the day
Has anyone else had a lateral approach and needed a chest tube? Not needed a chest tube? Does a patients frame and build sort of help predict if that will be needed during the procedure? I am 29 years old 5’8” and 170 pounds
ALIF L5-S1
LLIF T12-L5
PLIF T10-S1 with SI joint fixation both sides
The PA I was talking with said that they might need to use a chest tube during the lateral approach depending on if they need to enter the pleural space, a decision they won’t know if they need to make until they are in surgery. They said that if they need to do that they would need me to be in ICU for a day or so afterwards. The problem is that currently the ICU is packed full 50/50 with COVID and other patients. Therefor, if they think there is a strong chance they will need to use a chest tube, more than likely my surgery date will be pushed back and delayed.
I have mentally come to grips with another fusion. I have prepared every aspect of my life (work and personal) and I just want to get this over with, recover, and move on with my life. For my mental state and my anxiety I am crossing my fingers that surgery doesn’t get delayed. Is that weird? Don’t get me wrong the fear is still VERY previlant and VERY real but at the same time I have been waiting for so long that I just want to get it over with.
I should hear back from the surgeons office at the latest by tomorrow at the end of the day
Has anyone else had a lateral approach and needed a chest tube? Not needed a chest tube? Does a patients frame and build sort of help predict if that will be needed during the procedure? I am 29 years old 5’8” and 170 pounds
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