Low Blood Oxygen Saturation level

[STONE1953]

6 months ago my doctor had me take a pulmonary test at home which indicated "Mild COPD.  December 23, 2009, I fell after appearently falling asleep while standing.  As a result of the fall, I fractured 3 vertabra, broke a rib and a peice bone of the back of the vertabra columb.  While in the hospital, it was noticed that my Blood Oxygen Saturation levels dropped below the monitoring system low alarm point.  A night/sleep Oxygen level test was performed which indicated levels dropping as low as 70% several times during the test with levels never exeeding 90%.  I was presribed oxgen, however, no test or diagnosis on what has caused these low levels.  One test while at the hospital indicated low levels of red blood cells and other related tests showed low levels.  I have sufferred severe chronic pain for many years; having a spinal infusion system (Pain Pump) placement surgury March 2000.  Seven years later the original pump required replacement due to low battery condition.  This surgury did not go well, in that the recovery nurse called my family indicating I was showing signs of Narcotic Overdose while in surgury.  Approximently 6 days after the operation, I experience a two day period of lack of cognatve abilties and experienced an illusion of pins falling out of my incision.  On the ninth day I began to recover from the two days and began writing notes apparently related to the two days; which to this day I have no idea what the notes meant.  I still only remember roaming aimlessly around the house, alone, not knowing if the phone range or if I could have determed what the ring of the phone was.  The month followup with the Surgeon, I asked what could have caused the above symtoms.  In his HONEST reply he indicated it was probable that "air was left in the catheter" between the pump and my spinal cord. It took 6 days for the air to enter my spine and into my spinal fluid and up into my brain.  The pump representative present at the operation did not have the required information, specifically the lenth of the catheter.  Not knowing this value it is cautioned could lead to a severe overdose of narcotics and is a likely probable cause of distraction leading to failure to perform a procedural "Critical Task" to verify no air in the catheter.  I have yet to fully recover mentally and physically and have sufferred more illnesses since this operation that the years previous.  

I have not been able to find any literature on the effects of air entering the central spinal fluid (CSF).  I only know the effects and rapid drop in my health since the incident.  What I experienced healt wise would take too much documentation for this intial question.  Which in summary, considering it is a critical task to verify that no air exist in the catheter following pump replacement, what effect does air entering the CSF including that of the brain.  I trully feel my days are numbered based on the rapid decline in health and further co-morbidities since the operation.  Any qualified answeres will help myself and family to understand.  Thanks For Listening!

[ninammam]

I hope this man is alright and did get the right medical help that he needed.

[ninammam]

So sad no one even tried to answer this poor mans question.