Many of you have asked us what is wrong with Mac's heart. This trip to MUSC we were able to get images of his specific anatomy and what his anatomy will be when his surgery plan is complete. The first picture you see is a healthy heart. It shows how the blue blood (blood that has been depleted of oxygen) flows into the right side of the heart and out to the lungs. When it comes back into the heart it is red (blood with oxygen). The red blood is then pumped from the heart out to the body. The blood does not mix between the ventricles. Each side of the heart serves its own purpose.
When Mac had his catheterization in February we were able to see details of how his heart was created. Mac's heart had both ventricles, but there was a hole between the left and right were the blue and red blood mixed together. The aorta which is supposed to be on the left ventricle is located on the right, and the aorta and the pulmonary artery are switched.
When Mac's heart pumped blood in from the body to go to the lungs it got mixed with the blood that had already been to the lungs and would be pumped back out to the body. Some of his red blood would also be sent back to the lungs and would be reoxygenated.
Because he had all of this blood mixed there was too much pressure on his lungs so they placed the PA band to reduce the amount of blood flow to his lungs during his first surgery. You can see two black marks just under the number 13. This is the location where his PA band was placed.
After his first surgery all of his blood still mixed.
In March, Mac had his second surgery. The surgeon hoped that he would be able to go in and use the hole between the two bottom chambers to repair Mac's heart with one surgery. Because the hole was too small, we had to go a different route. Even though Mac has a left and right ventricle he is now considered a single ventricle patient. The surgeon removed the pulmonary artery from the inside of the heart and sewed it up so that no blood flows from the heart into the lungs. He then attached the superior vena cava that brings blood from the upper body to the pulmonary artery. That blood does not go into the heart anymore. It goes directly to the lungs. Then once that blood is oxygenated it goes into the heart to be pumped out to the body. There is still an inferior vena cava that sends blood from the lower body back to the heart on the bottom. It is were you see the blue blood going into the heart at the bottom. Right now there is still some blue blood mixing with the red and going back out to the body.
When Mac has his final surgery in a few years he will have the anatomy below. The lower part that was pumping blue blood into his heart will be connected to the pulmonary artery using a Gortex tube. This will be an adult sized piece of flex that will allow him to grow and use the same piece of material throughout his adult life. When this is done there will be no blue blood going into Mac's heart. He will only have red blood from the lungs being pumped by his heart out to his body.
We were unsure until after surgery if Mac would be a repair or single ventricle patient. This surgery plan will allow Mac to lead a normal life. He will be able to run and play and be a "normal" little boy. The only difference is that he will tire faster than most. We are so thankful for the hope that our son will be able to lead a "normal" life. The doctors say he won't be an "Olympic athlete" but who knows what God has in store for this little guy!
Mac truly has a heart like no other. The questions we faced in the beginning were because his heart is so unique. We are so thankful to be at a place where we can begin to move forward as a family with fewer questions and more plans for the future.
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