Back in the Hospital

Well, Lia Kate has been readmitted to the hospital. I took her dressing off this morning as instructed and, for the first time, got a look at her incision. A few hours later, I noticed some clear fluid leaking from the top of the incision. I knew that it could be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but it was just a little, tiny touch of it, and I was hoping it was just the clear serous fluid that can seep from wounds. An hour later, there was more. I called the surgeon's office and they told us to go to the ER.

We saw one of the neurosurgeons in the ER and he determined that it was, indeed, CSF. He put a couple of more tight stitches where the fluid was leaking in hopes that it creates a pressure and makes the dural sac (which houses the CSF) close. If it still leaks after that, they'll probably do an MRI to see if they can see what is going on. And then they would probably do another surgery -- to open the wound and reclose the dural sac to prevent leaking. The doc we saw today said that spinal fluid leaks post-operatively in 10 to 20% of these surgeries.

Lia Kate is acting fine ... as if she hasn't missed a beat. She is active, playing, talking and generally just being the sweet, happy girl that she usually is. We are staying overnight for observation. We'll see what the docs say tomorrow when they round.

One of the complications that can happen with a CSF leak is that if fluid can get out, bacteria can get in. So, she is more at risk for meningitis. There are more risks, but we won't go there unless things get worse. The good thing is that the leak is a small leak. Hoping the problem resolves itself and we are home before long. Thanks again for your concern, prayers and encouragement.