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Originally Posted by tokipoki  Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm not entirely sure what exploratory surgery entails (kinda just looking around the area of interest for a problem that you cannot find through other tests?) but it sounds like a more expensive option than just paying $250 for them to rule out an external shunt through scintigraphy even though the exploratory surgery could be done at the same time as her stone removal. They drew out a flowchart of how we narrow down and diagnose the issues at hand and they actually never even mentioned performing exploratory surgery while she was under for the bladder stones. They recommended a liver biopsy at the same time but not the exploratory surgery.
How it was presented to me, the results of the scint. seemed to be what would determine the following course of action (a "yes" reading would lead to CT scan and most definitely surgical interventions to treat a shunt which they didn't discuss with me at the time. A "no" reading would lead to deciding how to medically treat). If Toki didn't have the bladder stones and they determined that there was no shunt, I don't know that I would necessarily get a tissue sample ASAP, just to avoid putting her under. We'd probably just treat her as if she did have MVD through diet and medically etc.
By the way, I got a call this afternoon about Toki's scintigraphy results and they did not find a liver shunt which is good news but of course leaves MVD as the most likely issue. I'll post more tomorrow afternoon after Toki is discharged and I get more information. |
If they did a liver biopsy they would actually be right there and see a shunt if it was there.
No matter now anyway...at least you do have your answer! MVD is manageable...glad you have your answer!
