Atrial Flutter Options

After a sleepless night at Beaumont (well I shouldn't say sleepless...more like 2.5 hours of sleep) the Doctors and nurses started rounds and saw Sam first thing this morning. Dr. Hanzel's office sent their fellow Dr. Hansen and they recommended three options to Sam and gave him some time to decide which one he wanted to go with.

1. Do a Echo, TEE test and Cardiac Ablation to correct the Atrial Flutter/PVC's

2. Perform a Cardioversion on the heart (shock the heart back to it's normal rhythm)

3. Get discharged and use oral medications to maintain his heart rate

Sam talked this over with his mom and I and we thought option 1 was the best solution given he has been battling this on/off all week. We reasoned this because if they were to do a cardioversion and shock his heart he still runs the risk of his heart going back into the Atrial flutter and needing it again. Option 3 was not an option in my opinion since the medications haven't worked really well in the hospital so I don't think they will work that well out of the hospital.

The plan was to do an echo cardiogram of the heart first and then from there they would do a TEE test to ensure there were no blood clots within his heart - if there were ANY they could not do the Cardiac Ablation. If they were to do the Cardiac Ablation with a blood clot in the heart Sam would run the risk of having a stroke. However, Beaumont wasn't able to even do the cardiac ablation that was needed as they needed a part for the equipment that wasn't available. Lucky for Sam at the time his A flutter was calming a bit so they discharged him with medications and we go back on Tuesday to fulfill option 1. Not ideal but there is no need for him to stay at the hospital all weekend when they can't do anything but watch him. My nursing duties are in full force again!

They sent Sam home on Digoxin and have him on a burst dosage to start.. he has to take 4 pills and then a few hours later take 3 and so on until his heart rate can go down and be regulated until Tuesday. They also put him on Pradaxa to thin his blood for the next 30 days. I have cut him off of the knives again and anything sharp around the house.

We are going to have a nice low key weekend at home with Baxter... I think some Modern Family Season 1 and 2 are in order. Monday we are going to U of M to meet with Sam's other cardiologist Dr. Bach and go over everything that has been happening. More to come on Monday & Tuesday!