Brody is being carefully monitored in the PICU tonight

Brody has just got all settled in for the night in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) following his surgery today.   His blood pressure and heart rate have been running high.   He is on a Bi-PAP to help him breathe.   Pain control is a big concern for the night too.   All of these need closely monitored hence the reason he is in PICU tonight.  

Bill and I are taking shifts for the night so that one of us is here by his side all night.  

With the large mask over his face it's hard to hear and understand what he wants to tell us.   He is weak and his voice is really soft.   He is not talking very clearly either.   I have been asking him a lot of yes or no questions that he is able to shake his head yes or no to finally arrive at what he wants to tell me.  

He has a PCA for breakthrough pain and also a basal amount of pain medication running too.   The pain team evaluates him frequently for pain control.  They are doing an excellent job of managing pain concerns.  

Brody still does not seem to be putting out as much urine as he should be.   He looks puffy to me and his groin is swollen again.   His ICU doc explained that when tissues are inflammed they draw fluid into them.   He may have a high amount of fluid in his tissues and low vascular fluids.   This may be the reason for high heart rate,  high blood pressure,  and low urine output.   He is getting ready to be started on hydralazine (a vasodilator) to lower his blood pressure.   The ICU team is working to get Brody's fluid balance corrected.