Why is she on a ventilator?I thought she was breathing on her own? Something tells me she is in worse condition than reported.
The doctors had stated that it was not breathing for her, only keeping her throat open to ward off swelling - that she was breathing on her own.
A trach and PEG (her feeding tube) are SOP for head injury patients - she might be breathing on her own but not alert enough to protect her airway from choking on secretions.
They also inserted a feeding tube.
Her brain may not be able to send the signal to breathe, to swallow, to manage nutrition.
She needs our prayers.
Yes, I fear she is going to be like James Brady, with a functioning body and a half-functioning brain.
It is horrible to contemplate.
My prayers are with her and her family....it’s going to be a long and difficult road ahead.
They kept her on the ventilator because the air was pure and moist - to prevent infection?
To hear Obama speak at the campaign rally, I thought he had cured her completely?? What did I miss?
/sarc
I know I saw a snippet of an ABC cable show with Bob Woodruff where they were discussing head injuries—they did mention that part of her skull has been removed to prevent brain swelling injuries/problems (Palin’s fault), and they keep it in ‘storage’ for 3-4 *months* (Palin’s fault) to let the brain heal, then they will replace the piece of skull. They’ll also keep trying to determine how much brain damage there will be...I too am confused about the trach, if she’s ‘breathing on her own’ why would she need a tracheotomy??? Unless she is NOT breathing on her own due to the brain injury?
With brain injuries, doctors worry about cerebral edema (brain swelling.) During the first 48 - 72 hours, it is imperative to control all bodily functions, especially breathing and blood pressure.
It is standard procedure to medically induce coma and intubate those with brain injuries. The coma deepens the patient’s level of unconsciousness to control blood pressure, breathing, and various other functions. The ventilator regulates the patient’s breathing to a desired rhythm/rate.
Gabby has been able to breath on her own even while intubated, but it was important to keep her breathing at a specified/steady rate. As you know, emotions can affect one’s breathing.
They’re likely going to allow her to begin talking if she’s able to do so. Performing a tracheotomy is likely a safety precaution. If an emergency should occur, the trach opening allows doctors/nurses to quickly give Gabby air.
I wouldn’t read too much into it.
My sister was recently put in a coma and placed on a ventilator for a week to give her lungs a chance to rest. After a week the vent was removed and she was allowed to wake up.
Yes, this doesn't appear to be consistent with the standard propaganda that 'they' have been feeding us.
Truthfully, I haven't been following her medical condition very closely. I thought she was off the vent. Frankly, I can't figure out why they did a trach now. Perhaps they think she will need to return to the vent soon. The "breathing hole in her throat" would make it much easier to put her back on the ventilator than intubating her.
/end speculation
What I would rather hear is something like, "she remains in serious, but stable, condition"
But that's just a guess.
Since she was shot through the sinus cavity, I would guess that she has problems breathing through her nose. Ventilators are standard when putting people under heavy sedation because the sedative can often suppress normal respiratory function.
>> Something tells me she is in worse condition than reported.
I agree.
Prayers up for the Congresswoman.
They Did clain she was breathing on her own, that she was OFF the ventilator with only the breathing tube left “just in case”. Either the reporter screwed up or we’re being lied to for some SICK reasom by the state run media. Continuing prayers for Congresswoman Giffords. Get well soon, Hashem imachem. I know that’s untraditional, but if we’re not being told the truth, she DOUBLE needs the extra help.
I went through a surgical procedure last summer and had to get pumonary clearance. I asked a lot of questions of the physician’s assistant in the respiratory group since I have some respiratory issues (see my tagline). It was explained to me that if I were ever intubated, the tube would likely be removed and I would get a tracheotomy after about a week to prevent pneumonia setting in. This does not mean you will never speak normally or breathe on your own again.