You name the complication
March 2012 I went into the hospital for a vertical band takedown and esophogealjujonectomy to correct a Bowel blockage right below the banding. This was a "routine procedure" that this surgeon "performed on a daily basis." Or so he said. Within days things went very wrong, very fast. A G-tube slipped out of place pouring bile and other drainage throughout my abdominal cavity. Sepsis set in and became a super bug, leading me to the fight of my life! 2 months later I awoke to find an IV in my neck, a PICC line in my left arm, an IV in my right, and another central line in my left thigh. I had an open incision going from my breastbone to my pelvis which was covered over by a wound vac. From my understanding, they could not close my incision because they were doing surgical washouts every other day because my intestines developed necrosis. I had also developed a fistula that was very active...and this was just the start of things. Over the course of 14 long months I was hospitalized in 4 different facilities. Attempts to close up my incision and fistulas failed. I was NPO the entire time, and TPN was failing. I had undergone 4 transfusions because of the failing TPN. I was not getting any better, and out of options when I was referred to UPMC Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplant Clinic. The rest is nothing short of miraculous! Dr. Guilherme Costa removed the fistulas and pieced my what was left of my intestines back together. When I woke up, my incision was closed. Within weeks I was weaned off the TPN, and eating again. A few more weeks and I was going HOME. I will always have Short Bowel, and struggle to maintain nutritional balance but I'm alive and get a few more years with my family. For that I will be eternally great full to Dr Costa and the awesome team at UPMC.
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