Well, some very disappointing news to share. This is going to be long so If you do not want to read it that is understandable. I tried to be as clear as I could but I imagine you may not fully understand what I am explaining as it is confusing.
At ZAZu's one month checkup last Wednesday, since his implant surgery, everything pointed to the leader (which connects to the pacemaker and goes to his heart ) dislodged. The cardiologist took new Xrays and yes it was so. So the pacemaker is not talking to the heart....is not helping the heart pump better. ☹️ This was always something that could happen.
The Cardiologist discussed with us our next move...and we decided to move on to a new pacemaker...which will be implanted inside Him deeper by his back leg rather than on his neck. The neck implant is the first option as it is less invasive surgery than the second option. The second option opens up his chest cavity as well.... not so good.
This option of implanting a new pace maker deeper inside is safer than trying to replace the original leader that came loose after the first surgery due to the chance for infection which is very high trying to reattach the leader....So they will remove the first neck implant and leader ...and follow through with the new implant and leader. It seemed like what we should do.... at the time.
Now for the " bad" news.
During the second surgery, the surgeon and the Cardiologist worked together. The first leader that they had for to attach to the pacemaker did not work... so they tried a second leader and it was also not functioning..... and they had no extras in the building. The cardiologist told us he was so upset about this and the fact that they had no extras to use that they could try. He said he could not believe that this happened..... two faulty leaders.... and that the surgery accomplished nothing.
So basically poor Zazu endured a second invasive surgery to put in the new pacemaker and lead... FOR NOTHING. They did remove the pacemaker that was in his neck and the leader from the first surgery...( as that had to be done anyway....) and just close him up... SO BASICALLY NOTHING WAS FIXED . He had major surgery that did nothing. No pacemaker... no fix.
Zazu has been at the hospital since last Wednesday.... we hope to go get him today. He had a fever for two days( not good as far as infection) but they said yesterday it was just about gone. They said he was doing well. That is good. I just want him home. I put the poor dog through SO MUCH thinking I was going to help him have a better life and now I regret the whole thing. It has been a very awful experience to say the least.
Now the next hurdle will be the money we paid for this second surgery. That bill( as was the first surgery bill) was $5,600 up front.
So I am wondering since the second surgery failed due to the fact that they did not have on hand what was needed to finish the surgery... no implant was put in that we paid in full for....... along with all the other things that they charge for for the surgery. We should get some kind of credit.
Now this second surgery, I wonder if they will recalculate the cost for what was done( or not done). As both doctors told us that the equipment they had was not working to finish the surgery... I think that they would be in default. The dog is back to where he started and nothing was accomplished due to there not having enough leaders on hand or working leaders.... to finish the surgery. It would be comparable to say paying for a new heart... them opening you up and then the heart does not show up. Would you pay for a new heart that you did not get? I hope it does not become messy and a lawsuit etc. I just want to pay fair for what I owe and get credit for what I paid for that was not done.
I will update later after we get poor Zazu home. So he can heal from all the surgery wounds....... I am so discouraged and sad and upset. I just want him home so I can hug him and squeeze him... and tell him how sorry I am to have put him through such torture.
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