UPDATE 1:17 PM EST: "W" suspended the x-ray test in lieu of waiting for the chest repack. They said that will be coming, but they are about an hour late. He has been dry heaving a lot lately, but they say he has been doing this for a few days (mostly at night). His leaking has slowed, but still leaks a lot when he sat upright.
UPDATE 11:53 AM EST : The nurse said they will push some dye through Dad's G-tube, take an x-ray and see if the G-tube was dislodged somehow. They are moving quickly on this, since it will be another 1.5 hours until the skin and wound team will arrive--they want some results before this time.
EARLIER: Today Dad had one of his 3 tubes removed. They removed his "J P Bulb"; this type of tube removes additional fluid from around surgery sites. Nurses and doctors identify patches of fluid using CAT scans. They also took him off the vacuum G-tube, which forcibly empties his stomach--they replaced it with a gravity bag (no suction).
His tube was removed just before breakfast was served. He received breakfast at 8am, and he ate some orange ice cream, chicken broth, tea, cranberry/raspberry juice. Shortly after he ate this food, his chest started leaking fluid (the same fluid that WAS being vacuumed from his G-tube yesterday).
This fluid is secreting from his wound vac site (this is being drained by a vacuum as well, but is uncommon--remember that this used to pull 250 - 800 ml a day, but has recently only been pulling 75ml). It is normal to have mild seepage from the J P removal site, which it there is, but it seems as though the flow of fluids has redirected since its removal. Now, instead of flowing to the G-tube, "stomach fluids" are seeping from the middle of his chest. What is happening now is that his digestive enzymes and acids are on his bare skin and turning his skin raw and red--not a good thing. The sitter is making sure they are being wiped off, constantly.
The doctor on staff, we'll call him "W" says this is nothing to be concerned about (at the moment). As long as there is something leaking from him, he doesn't care from where, it's a good thing. "W" says that The skin and wound team is returning to Scott's side this morning to repack his incision. While he's in there, she may be able to identify whether or not the G-tube is still in its proper place (for proper drainage). "W" thinks that there is a chance (slim, hopefully) that the G-tube is no longer in the correct position. If this is the case, Dad will have to have another surgery to replace the G-tube--we're hoping that it's not the case, but the G-tube is completely empty (it pulled off liters and liters of fluid yesterday).
We had advised to "W" that if fluid is in his peritoneal cavity, it drastically increases his chances of infections and of becoming septic (this is exactly what occurred the last time, which caused the second major surgery). He said that once the wound is re-packed the seal should be solid, we'll see.
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