Options & Decisions

Options are great, if you have any. well come to think of it it may not always be good. You might only have one or just way too many. There are three options for CCHS which are tracheotomy, bi-pap mask, and diaphragm pacers.

• Trache's are the most common type of surgical procedure done especially in babies as well in children and even some adults. It is among the oldest described procedures. consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (windpipe). The resulting stoma (hole), or tracheostomy, can serve independently as an airway or as a site for a trache tube to be inserted; this tube allows a person to breathe without the use of his or her nose or mouth. There are two types of traches; cuff and cuff-less. A cuff trache is like a cuff-less trache the only difference is there is a "balloon" that gets inflated and secures the trache in place. 
• Bipap masks are simply a mask that ties around the head to stay in place while asleep. They are recommend more for older children and adults but some babies do use them. They come in all different shapes and sizes. 
• Diaphragm Pacers is a surgically implanted device used to help patients breathe following complications. The device works through pacing of the diaphragm. 

With Jack, I was told that with his airway defect it would be pointless at this point to get the pacers done because he would still require an open airway (trache). Which means he would undergo surgery for pacers and have his trache. The pacers are a way of more freedom and less equipment. I will have to speak with doctors who are more familiar with diaphragm pacers and airway defects who can better answer my questions and give me a better outlook on Jack's future to pace him. 

This is what a Diaphragm Pacemaker looks like:

Jack using an HME for the first time