If I had a couple of weeks to do my research, then I would have a better grip on how to tackle this LS, but do I have that time?
So far this is what I'm dealing with:
~Need to find out if LS is 'congenital' or 'acquired.' (not only to determine surgery(s) or life time sustainment/management, but also insurance coverage)
~Need to know if it's Extrahepatic (outside) or Intrahepatic (outside) of the liver to determine if it's operable.
~Need to choose best way to diagnose with the least possible invasion and/or risks to my baby:
.......Scintigraphy: Pros; Relatively safe & quick.
Confirms if LS is present or not
Cons; Requires sedation or anesthesia
Requires hospitalization for at least 1 night.
Cannot tell if it's inside or outside of liver.
Cannot tell if it's congenital or acquired
........Portogram: Pros; Usually safe & able to provide a picture (snapshot) of the shunt so it's easier to see where it is and if there are more than 1.
Cons; more invasive than the above method and requires anesthesia
........Ultrasound: Pros; safer
Cons; Requires a ultrasonographer with lots of experience and a specialized machine "Doppler." If person is not experienced, the shunts can be missed
Transcolonic Portal Scintigraphy: Pros; Noninvasive, doesn't require sedation or anesthesia and takes just a few minutes
"currently the most accurate and safest way available."
Cons; Doesn't say if it will confirm where shunt is or if congenital. In my experience if they don't talk about it, then it's not there
The problem is that not all this options are available to me where I am. I may have to go to NJ or NY or farther in PA to find proper diagnosis and treatment
