100% Update: Bronchoscopy

It's 6:00am and it was the first night that we did not get a call to our humble condominium on the Second Floor in the middle of night. My neighbor rattled the neighborhood with some booming snoors. (Maybe he's just exhausted... I say a prayer for his family...)

We talked to Nurse Newbie before her shift change. ICP levels were maintained around the magic number (20) with prayers and medication. Since Dad was able to rest through the night, we now open a new chapter called "Facial Fractures." We had these questions in the back of our minds, but they were not a concern because of the heart, head, and lung concerns. This morning, Dad's oxygen saturation levels need a little prayer. Not because his lungs are not working, but because of the facial trauma to the bronchial and sinus areas. Newbie told us that they are about to perform a bronchoscopy. (Is that spelled right? Who knew that you had to be a spelling bee champion to understand each medical update?) The procedure is intended to try to open his bronchial passages to help breath and increase oxygen saturation. Currently, there is a lot of swelling, fractured bones and "stuff" in there affecting Dad's levels.

So, the Good News is the Gospel. The good news is Dad got some rest last night. The good news is that we did not receive another call in the middle of the night. The good news is that the Trauma Team is starting to look at other areas in Dad's recovery.

UPDATE:
What would life be like without Google, Wikipedia, or WebMD? According to our internet friends, the bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to look at your airway through a thin viewing instrument called a bronchoscope. During a bronchoscopy, your doctor will examine your throat, larynx, trachea, and lower airways.

Bronchoscopy may be done to diagnose problems with the airway or to treat problems such as an object or growth in the airway. See a picture of bronchoscopy.

A rigid bronchoscope is usually done with general anesthesia and uses a straight, hollow metal tube. It is used: (1) When there is bleeding in the airway that could block the flexible scope's view; (2) To remove large tissue samples for biopsy; (3) To clear the airway of objects (such as a piece of food) that cannot be removed using a flexible bronchoscope.Special procedures, such as widening (dilating) the airway or destroying a growth using a laser, are usually done with a rigid bronchoscope.

Thanks http://www.webmd.com/ for the information.