Medical Update from Marty Taliak 12/30/08

10:00 PM 30 December 2008   Kerry's overall status is stable with her now on a conventional respirator requiring less sedation. Has a low grade fever probably pulmonary in origin. With all the contused lung by x-ray it is hard to tell if this is ateletasis but probably is.The pulmonary people are paying a great deal of attention and are doing a great job with the crushed chest.and it's implications. Otherwise she is more reactive  to stimulation but not really responsive. She moved one leg for the first time today.Vital signs are stable and BP elevating drugs are almost discontinued.   With the splenic rupture and orthopedic surgery in the offing anticoagulants are contraindicated so a vena cava filter to block the possibility of pulmonary emboli form the lower extremities may well be done. In the old days (1990's) this was a laborious procedure but now is quite simple from the groin. It hasn't been mentioned yet but should be anticipated.   All in all she is slowly improving on a day to day basis.She is recieving good care but not out of danger yet!   Marty