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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Interventricular Conduction Delay

Interventricular Conduction Delay

Say that 3 times fast....

Also known as a 'Right Bundle Branch Block', WebMd defines it as: "Bundle Branch Block: Normally, the electrical impulse travels down both the right and left bundle branches at the same speed and the ventricles contract at the same time. If there is a block in one of the branches, it's called a bundle branch block. A bundle branch block causes one ventricle to contract just after the other ventricle."

When Gabriella's precious sparkly heart was transported from the location of her angel donor to us in Southern California, the cold water it was stored in can cause a slight change to the Right ventricle. I hate using the word damage, because it is not as negative as that sounds, but for lack of a better word I will. The damage the right ventricle sustained from the cold water causes what the definition above states, a contraction (beat) slightly delayed in the right verses the left ventricles, sounding like a horses gallop. It was possible we didn't hear the gallop noise this condition was making because her heart rate was so fast up until a few weeks ago. She ran 130-140 for the first 10 weeks post transplant, and leveled out at a normal 110 range when her and her heart calmed together. When she leveled out, the sound was noticeable, and combined with the other symptoms presented like rejection.

The good news is this is seen occasionally in heart transplant kiddos, and shouldn't cause concerns. It will be something I have to mention to doctors who hear her heart for the first time, since that sound is commonly seen in rejection. The bad thing is we won't catch a rejection episode based on heart sounds now... so thats a bummer. But in light of everything overall and all we have to worry about, this is minor and mostly innocent.

As for her appetite and weight loss, we are thinking it is meds. Gabriella is metabolizing her meds weird and we finally found a good balance for one of the 2 immunosuppressants, Neoral (cyclosporine). The 2nd one she is on, CellCept, paired with her anti-viral, Valcyte, is causing her white blood cells to constantly bottom out, so that will be what the docs work on next. If the CellCept is not in the right ranges, is can cause belly aches, which in result will make her loose her appetite and loose weight!

My token phrase lately.... 'how will I ever leave these doctors at Loma Linda???'. But, we have to... and will probably head back to Arizona mid to late September. Of course, with plans to come back in November for clinic!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Kristi, glad to hear there is no rejection and that you are being a mommy/teacher. That's awesome. We continue to pray for Gabriella & her sparkly heart. Ris asks about her often and reminds me of the Mother/Daughter Day we went to. Tell Paul I said "hi". Our continued prayers are with you all.