A pulse! A pulse!

Dr Jones came by with sensitive fingers and doppler and found pulses in both feet! He ordered the heparin turned off and said we should keep him on baby aspirin instead and might be able to home today if the echo can be done and is reassuring.

The heparin is now GONE.

He explained that during the cath procedure they tried to use the left leg for acess but the femoral artery on that side had a blockage as they inserted the cath so they used the right side. After the procedure they did a contrast dye of that side to see what was going on and found that the ileac artery ??? was obstructed and had collaterals. This hasn't caused problems for his organs and his femoral artery is okay but means that they can't use that side for a cath procedure. Also, he suggested it happened during his first surgery when that side was used for a central line.

Anyway, neither vessel was damaged during this cath procedure (apparently they took images afterwards showing good flow) but the vessels can spasm afterwards and clots can form. This is why Wren was on the blood thinner, heparin. Now the vessels are open he no longer needs it.

Wren was so happy to hear this news that he smiled.