What happens to the brain after heart surgery when you have been under so much medication to keep you sedated and everything becomes toxic because your kidneys are not functioning properly

[teeg49]

My fatehr in law was having a procedure done preparing him for dialysis when he had a heart attack and had to be put on a breathing tube and heart pump and dialysis and everything else.  They had to keep him under sedation to keep him from pulling everything out for about 4 days and they have been trying to wake him up and he is not coming out of it.  Since his kidneys are not working properly, the medication is taking longer to work out of his system and they say that it is toxic.  What is it called when this happens where the brain is not being able to respond and he is aggitated and such.  Is there a name for the toxicity that the medication has caused?

[twopack]

I'm sorry to hear this.  It must be very difficult for your family.  The general term for what is happening to his brain is encephalopathy.  It is generally impossible to predict how long it will take to recover and how much recovery will occur.  This is true of injury to the brain whether it results from trauma or metabolic causes (disease).  Did they get the stent placed for dialysis or did the heart attack shut down the surgery before they finished?  The health of his kidneys will factor into recovery, as you have indicated already.  It seems you could be watching and waiting for a while but if those drugs clear his system he may wake up quickly.  My thoughts are with you.

[kay2486]

if his heart had stopped more than a few minutes then brain cells start to die because of lack of oxygen, he should come round but it will take longer for sedatives to wear off because his kidneys cannot filter the blood properly, is he on a transplant list for a kidney and have the doctors mentioned kidney failure will lead to heart failure, this may be connected

[teeg49]

His stent was put in for dialysis in his arm and afterwards in recovery, his breathing and oxygen went down and was put on a breathing tube and heart pump, but those were taken off.  The heart pump Saturday and the breathing tube Sunday he coughed up on his own.  After going to CICU they had to put a stent in his neck also and have started the dialysis from their..  He pulled all the lines out Monday, so they kept him off of the dialysis the rest of the day and are supposed to restart him today.  I don't know why they are waiting so long to start it back up.  I just want him to wake up.  He is not responding and he was there for awhile.  I am scared.

[ChatterAlly]

We may not have all the answers for you, but just keep coming in for support.  You will be on my heart and in my prayers today.  Please, keep us posted, and ask as many questions as will make you feel better.  Take care, Ally

[teeg49]

Why does he keep pulling out his lines to his dialysis.  He is not awake and still is not responding because he keeps doing this and they have to wait and start all over for the dialysis.  
He had a quadruple bypass about 3 years ago and had type two diabetes and was doing better with the diabetes before the heart surgery, but after the heart surgery the diabetes got worse and he was taking insulin.  Hasn't been able to get the sugars under control, but he sneeks things that he shouldn't.
His leggs have been bothering him too the past year.  Pain and weakness and burning and stinging.  He said that it was excruciating (sp).  
He is my father in law, but he is the only father I ever had and I am not dealing well with this.
My Mother died in 99 due to cancer (cervical, lung and brain).  I wasn't there for her, my brother was.  I was in Idaho soo far away with no money to get to Michigan except when a friend bought me a plane ticket and I got to see her a month before she passed.
I hadn't seen her for 16 years before that.  It made me feel aweful, but at least I was able to see her before she passed on and we could heal our wounds.

I wrote her a poem when she passed.

Every morning when I wake, I wonder what the day will hold.
Will I be able to make it through, or will the hurt inside unfold?
I try to understand why GOD has taken Mom away.
I know he has his reasons, so each night I sit and pray.
I pray that Mom's not far away and watches over me at night,
And through the day she'll hold my hand and let me know that it's alright.
She wouldn't want me to be sad, because she's in a better place.
For her spirit will always be around, when I need a warm embrace.

By Me

[ChatterAlly]

How precious!  I too went through an awful time when my father passed.  I am not sure of all the conditions that led to this, but they were keeping his heart beating long enough to say his goodbyes. The IV drip we called "Liquid Gold" at the time.  The last thing we talked about was why I hadn't visited him enough.  He was right!  He lived 3 hours away and my life was so busy and hectic.  Only 3 hours away I say now.  Only 3 hours.  A very strange thing happened when he passed.  It was Valentine's Day and I had card I was going to give him that day.  The phone rang at 4:30am and it was my step mom calling to say he was gone.  I left the card in my luggage at the hotel and went to the hospital to help make the arrangements.  When I returned home the next day, I unpacked my bags and was NEVER able to find that card!  I like to think he took it with him.
My mom was a diabetic and she suffered emmensely.  She eventually lost one of her legs to this.  She would develope sores that were holes in her feet.
As for the pulling out of the lines, he is just not himself right now. Is he responsive at all?  I know it is difficult, but you hang in there.  Lean on the One Whose Arms can carry us.
I am usually here if you just want to vent.  Take care.  I am lifting you up in prayer again today!  Ally

[teeg49]

Thanks for all your notes. My Father in Law passed away peacefully May 13th 2010.
Whatever am I going to do without him.  What is his wife and children going to do.
He was such a gentle soul.  He will be missed soooooooo much.

Thank You again.

teeg49

[ChatterAlly]

Awww (((((((((((((((((( teeg )))))))))))))))  I'll be thinking of you today!  God bless you and yours.  Ally