So quick update...my dad is still in the hospital. He was doing great...was ready to move out of ICU in less than 24 hours, but they kept him for 2 days due to his fear of the trach. It's been 15 days since the surgery, but 3 weeks since he was admitted (due to an infection and barely eating due to uncontrolled pain.) He was scheduled to have the trach removed last week as he capped it right away and he did awesome, but he developed a new infection. They kept it in as a precaution and he still has it. He doesn't actually use it but they want it in in case he infection progresses. In addition to the infection, there is one area of the flap that isn't healing well. It's small but it is right in the front. They referred to this as wound breakdown and could be the result of an infection. Originally we we're told they would do some bedside debridement to clean up the area and remove some infected tissue to promote faster healing, but now they are talking about another surgery to remove the poorly healing tissue and pulling the flap forward and cleaning up the infected tissue area. Clearly he is devastated and in shock. We thought he would be home by now and testing swallowing. They won't let him eat a thing until he tests swallowing. Only good news is that they are going to go through the mouth rather than the neck and should only be about 2 hours in the OR.

Has anyone ever had debridement surgery? From what I've read, flap failure doesn't occur this late post surgery so hoping it is small enough and his flap remains healthy and viable. The surgeon wants to wait and see how things go as he may not need surgery. We are hoping he doesn't.... But if it will improve his speech and swallowing then we don't oppose it. According to another dr that stopped by, the area is stable and not spreading, which is great. my dad just wants the trach out and to be able to eat. Hoping someone can shed light on whether or not they've been through this... And hoping that this doesn't delay recovery tremendously.