Friday is Tyler's weekly head ultrasound day. The report last week was very similar to the first one. Not good, but no worse. Today's images were rather frightening to the un-trained eye. The ventricles had swollen up a good deal. According to the docs we are not in the danger-zone. Little brains are mostly water and don't really mind getting shoved around all that much. Swelling in the brain is never a good thing, in Tyler's case it is not yet dangerous. We had a neurosurgery consult today they plan to monitor him closely.
We will begin twice-weekly ultrasounds and daily head circumference measurements to make sure things aren't getting any worse. If they do we may be looking at installing a shunt. This is a line from the ventricle in the brain to the stomach to allow the fluid to drain. Even installing a shunt is considered rather safe and without complications could result in no ill effects.
Today's results really do not change Tyler's prognosis. There is no evidence that the larger ventricles will cause any significant damage or not. We are still where we were last Friday, waiting to see what happens. Most babies who have this condition and last a month without having a shunt install usually don't need one. Babies that do have shunts installed can grow up to lead perfectly healthy happy lives.
Looking at Tyler you would never know any of this was going on. He looks bigger today and his color was great. Everyone seemed to agree that his reflexes were fine and his reactions were good. We are also watching food intake and output closely, preemies often have issues getting the gut primed. So far things look good, but one nurse told me today that they never trust the baby on this one. Show me the diaper!
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