Still Fighting

So Mike is continuing to fight. So far he has been off his Vec for almost 10 1/2 hours and his ICP is staying below 20. I consulted with the Pulmonary Team around noon and they were concerned that his white cells were still rising, indicating he was still fighting an infection somewhere. They were concerned because he's been on an antibiotic for 11 days and his white count should be going down, not up. They decided to run more cultures and to do a bronchoscopy. This is when they insert a camera down his breathing tube and take a look directly into the lungs. I actually got to stay in the room and observe the procedure. I have to say it was pretty cool. The Doctor told me that having me in room with Mike during the procedure would actually help him to try and remain calm since he's becoming more aware of what's going on around him.

During the procedure they were able to get a fairly good amount of fluid from his lungs. They also determined that he probably has a new infection. The fluid they pulled from the lungs, they think is an anaerobic bacteria. They will know in about 24 hours after a culture has grown. Anaerobic means bacteria that grows with out an oxygen source. They have changed his antibiotics. They think the infection was masked because he was unable to show a persistent fever due to the cooling blanket on.

They have also changed his sedation to a stronger one for the next few hours. Mike was "Bucking the Ventilator", which means he was over breathing (almost like hyperventilating), and they needed him to calm down. The Pulmonary team doesn't want to put him on the cooling blanket or back on the Vec. The want him to start waking up. His ICP has been stable through all of this so they are pushing forward. I am continuing to stay by his side and reassure him. They say it's really making a difference. (I know it is for me.) His nurse and I are talking to him more frequently (since he's becoming more aware) and reminding him that he was in an accident, that he's in the hospital and I'm by his side.