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.