Moving out of ICU!

My Dad's doctor signed the order to release him from ICU to the step down unit!  I visited with him yesterday, and he was much more awake and aware of what was happening.  His BP was a bit high, but I guess they are just watching it.  He had a chest X-Ray the other day, and he had a little fluid in his lungs, but we're hoping that will go away now that he doesn't have to be laying down all the time.  My oldest sister is flying in today from Pensacola to spend some time with him.  The bleeding from his ear has stopped.  The cardiologist is going to run a stress test as soon as the neurologist clears him.  Overall he's doing much better, but still in a lot of pain.

Status on my Dad

4/27/12 11:00 AM

Bert was flown to ORMC after blacking out and falling while walking the dog.

A CAT scan revealed a Left Temporal Fracture, and a Sub Arachnoid hemorrhage in his Left Frontal Cortex (Small Brain Bleed)

He also has a Thoracic Spine Fracture (Mid-Back) His spinal cord was not displaced.  He has feeling in his hands and feet and is able to move them.

He has received 5 bags of platelets so far, since he is on an aspirin regimen, as a precautionary step in case he needs surgery.

They believe he may have also fractured his rib on his right side, as he is having quite a bit of pain there. NO FRACTURE, JUST A BAD BRUISE

He has a cut in his left ear which the neurologist will re-evaluate this morning. BLEEDING WAS CAUSED BY FRACTURE AT BASE OF SKULL, NOT A CUT.

His cardiac enzymes were just slightly elevated (Normal is .05, he was .29)

His blood sugar was in a normal range for him (200s)

He was admitted to the ICU for observation.  He had a second CAT scan this morning and as of 11:00 AM.  We are still awaiting the results.

3:00 PM Update
No surgery at this time.
The CAT scan revealed a second fracture at the base of his skull that was not seen on the first CAT scan.  
His ribs are not fractured, but badly bruised.  
They placed a central line to deliver a 3% sodium drip to remove some water from his blood and "dry it up" to facilitate the swelling in his brain.  
The second fracture is also to blame for the bleeding from his left ear, not a cut.  He has a consult with an ENT regarding the bleeding.
Around 1:00 PM he had an Echo-cardiogram, and we will discuss the results with the doctors later.