Baby Eagan - NICU Day 84 - Big Plans

  Eagan is doing so good that I was able to leave mid-day to see my babies at home. I will be back at the hospital tomorrow night. We have a tentative date for extubation, this Thursday! The new doctor this month wants him to go to CPAP instead of a nasal cannula as was the plan before. I like plans so it is a bit stressful to change so abruptly. He will start steriods on Wednesday to prepare his lungs to lose the ventilator. Also, physical therapy consulted on Eagan. They will try to get his muscles healthy and work with him since he has been laying in a bed for almost three months.

Weight
4 lb 1.9 oz

Breathing
Eagan is on the conventional ventilator. His settings are down to 20 breaths per minute. Until Eagan loses a bit more weight, the rate will stay at this number.  His oxygen rate is around 21%. The  tidal volume support is down to 7.5. This is much better for his lungs and a big step toward extubation! Also, he has fluid in his lungs so he is getting Atrovent breathing treatments every six hours.

Vein and Artery Access 
Eagan has a femoral line in his upper thigh.

Medications

Gamma globulin was given again today. This boosts his immune system and gives him extra protein.
 
Fortaz, an antibiotic, was also finished today.

An antibiotic, Oxicillin has been discontinued.

He is now only on Morphine every 6 hours as needed. He hasn't needed Morphine since Saturday night.

Caffeine has been started as a diuretic to try to speed up his kidney function.

He is also on Diflucan as a preventative measure.

He is also on Zantac to help calm his tummy's acid levels.

Lasix, a diuretic, will be given daily.

He is back on Synthroid for low thyroid.

Nutrition

  Eagan is getting 6 cc's of breast milk continuously every hour. The output into his ostomy bag is being put through a tube into the other side of his intestines, called re-feeding. He was getting 2 ml per hour of re-feeds. Now, everything he puts out into his ostomy is re-fed into the mucous fistula. He is getting TPN and lipids.

Transfusions 

June 23 - Transfusion #29
 

Upcoming Tests

Eye exam next Monday.
 

Cranial ultrasound at 36 weeks gestation.