7 y.o.36 hours post op decompression w/ nausea & vomiting

[SydsMom1105]

I brought my 7 year old daughter to the ER on March 10th because she was having severe sudden headaches all weekend that tylenol and motrin would not touch. They did a CT scan which showed a possible chiari malformation. They admitted her, did an MRI, and EEG, and an SSEP. They discovered that she was positive for Babinski reflex and showed deficits on the EEG and SSEP. Her chiari measured 18mm. They also diagnosed a basilar invagination. She had the decompression surgery yesterday morning. They told me it was one of the "tightest chiari's they had ever seen. We are now about 36 hours post-op and she has not stopped vomiting. She is getting IV Zofran every 6 hours alternating with IV Phenergan every 6 hours, so she gets one or the other every 3 hours. She is also getting Toradol routine every 6 hours and dilaudid every 3 hours. They have now started her on Diamox. Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I be worried that she is still vomiting or is this to be expected? I am an RN but pediatrics is not my area and had never heard of chiari. Right now I am a mother that is very worried about my little girl and just looking for answers and/or guidance. Thanks! Jennifer

[frankie_rush]

I hope she starts feeling better, beign sick is terrible.  Like some of them said it could be a reaction to the meds, even a combo of meds together.

[AnnieDear]

I also had severe nausea and vomiting after decompression and laminectomy. Ice packs at the back of my head and my shoulder area, and new meds helped me. Mine continued for about 2 weeks. I can't imagine a 7 year old going through that. I hope she feels better ASAP :(  

On the plus side, it sounds like she really needed her Chiari to be taken care of, and it was taken care of quickly. Sometimes it's very hard to find someone to listen and actually address these issues. Hang in there, mom!

[selmaS]

  I figured she had more work then just the decompression...do u know the type of  dura patch used. Sometimes the patch can be the issue....

It is early to know, she just may be reacting to meds and drugs used during surgery......

Do they do ne exercises with her with the brace off?or have they mentioned doing so in the future?

[SydsMom1105]

They did open the dura and put in a dura patch. She is wearing the collar because her neck muscles are in a weakened state due to the basilar invagination, so it is to provide support while she heals.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Aww I am so sorry she is having such a rough time.....

Do u know what all was done during her surgery...many times with children they do the decompression in a less invasive manor, they do not open the dura.

Since she is in a neck brace, did they do something with her odontoid?

As for the vomiting, I had an issue but mine was resolved when they changed my meds, I was having a reaction to morphine....it may be one of the pain meds....I was in ICU for 2.5 days bcuz of the vomiting....

If it is only when she is upright, it could indicate a CSF leak.....