Post-Op problems, blood clots, are they common?

[Angieshubbie]

Hi everyone!  My wife just went through surgery on August 21st for a 3+cm tumor removal.  The doctors were great and the surgery went fine...  or so I thought.  All of the tumor was removed.  She spent 3 days in ICU and another 3 in the hospital before being released to out-patient physical therapy. 
The facial nerve was spared and she has shown some slight signs of paralysis/numbness on the right side, but they have improved.  Prior to being released from the hospital she complained of her back, neck, and head hurting.  Everyone thought that it was normal and that it would get better with time and therapy.  On her 4th day at home she could not stand it any longer.  The pain to her back was intense.  She could not get comfortable without a high dose of pain medication.  Over the 4 days she was gradually getting worse.  She was constantly tired and lethargic acting.  She began showing some signs of "LEFT" side facial paralysis.  After a call to the doctor she was taken by ambulance back to the hospital.  A MRI showed that she had a blood clot in her sinus vein about 2 inches long.  The clot was not allowing her spinal fluid to drain.  A spinal tap showed that her fluid pressure was "the highest he had ever seen", using the terms of the doctor.  Normal I guess is (20) and her's was 4 times that.  The pressure was damaging the facial nerves and causing the paralysis.  She now has some vision problems that were created by this build up of pressure.  They had began treating her with drugs, (steroids, diuretics, etc..) to get the swelling down.  Now they have finally put in a lumbar drain.  The fluid pressure was at 40 when they put in the drain.  So far her fluid is stabilizing and we hope to have her home again soon.  She is claiming that she feels much better.  She is now showing some signs of "confusion".  When talking with her she sometimes "spaces" off mid-sentence and begins rambling about a totally different topic.  While asking her the general questions to check her cognitive thought she got about 20% of them wrong.

Everything being said and done, we've been pretty pleased with the doctors.  The surgery was a great success.  She has no forseeable facial paralysis.  She even thinks that she might still have some hearing left.  Although the doctor and I both doubt it, we are hopeful.

Are these types of complications normal? 
Will the "confusion" get better?
Has anyone else had this blood clot problem?
At what point is it appropriate to use the lumbar drain?

Thank all of you for your posts and replies.

[pattibobatti]

Goodmorning,

Wow, you two have been through alot!  Thank goodness she is doing much better.  You'll  find that each of us has a different story.  Every surgery is much different than the next.  From what I have learned, your wife is in the best hands.
I just wanted to welcome you to this great forum..


Pabttibobatti

[Gennysmom]

Wow...good thing you guys got in!!  I had a lumbar drain for 8 days following a CSF leak...so I had the opposite problem!  I was really nauseated above 25 degrees or so in be, but no other real symptoms.  I had the drain work it's way out once and had to have it redone, so keep a watch out for that.  It's really only good for 4-5 days.  Messing with the pressure in my head really messed me up, so make sure she really takes it easy...the drive home was horrible (keep narc painkillers close at hand) as it felt like my brain was sloshing around.   I think the confusion could be from a number of things, I'd worry only if it keeps up once she's home and off drugs. 

[Jeanlea]

Hi,

I had a lumbar drain in the hospital for three days after my surgery.  Was in NICU for 3 days and a regular room for 5 days.  After being home for about 2 weeks I felt a sharp pain in my right side.  I went to the emergency room.  They sent for a CAT scan after hearing that I'd just had brain surgery.  Turns out I had blood clots in my lungs.  Ended up back in the hospital on herpernin (sp).  Ended up taking warfarin (blood thinners) for about 4 months.  Didn't notice any other side effects.

Hope your wife is doing better.

Jean

[Gennysmom]

Oh, that's right, when I was in for the AN surgery, since I was so dizzy and not getting up much, I got that stuff...(Hepron (sp?) I thought)...so I wouldn't clot....6 or so shots of it in the gut...I was bruised for a month from those shots and they hurt like heck!!!!  I didn't like those!!!!!

[Obita]

Angieshubbie:

I have not heard of a clot like that but I have only been around the forum for a few months.

I just wanted to send a hello to you and Angie.  I hope she is improved already and home to you soon.

Kathy

[Kathleen_Mc]

I haven't heard of this location of a blood clot but anything can happen. Blood clots will happen post-op from many surgeries, I have been lucky and never have had one. Did they have those tight elastic stocking on your wife pre-op (on the way into the OR) and post-op until she was up and about? That makes a significant difference in not developing clots.
Kathleen

[Patti UT]

# months after my surgery, my friend called me to tell me that a friend of hers boyfriend, 47 and otherwise healthi=y, had the AN surgery with the same Doc's I had and he developed a blood clot in his brain during surgery and he didn;t make it.  Bot it sure made me feel fortunate. Good thing they got a handle on yours quickly.
Good luck
patti UT

[Angieshubbie]

Thank all of you for the replies.  It's nice to know that people are out there that have been through something similar.
They put her on the Heparin for several days and put in a Lumbar Drain.  They started the Lovinox shots in her stomach and then started her on Cumadin.  When her blood thinners get to the 2-3 range (theraputic) they will stop the shots and she can take the oral medication for the next 3 months.  They have transfered her to a local hospital for in-patient physical therapy.  She experienced some loss of her periphial vision in the left eye and some upper body strength loss.  The vision is most likely permenant and it was caused by the damage done from the built up pressure damaging the nerve.  The upper body strength will most likely improve with P.T. and it is already showing signs of improvement.
Despite all of the "complications", I have been very impressed and pleased with her "team" of doctors.  She was treated at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.  The lead doctor is named Dr. John Lasak.  He is a wonderful attentive doctor.  The neurosurgeon is Dr. John Goreki.  They were able to leave her facial nerve intact and she shows no signs of paralysis.  Sounds like with a 3+CM tumor that was pretty amazing.  She has been seen by several "consulting" specialist that were also wonderful.  I would highly recommend them to anyone.