@KarenG - We’ve only had a couple of members who’ve had ES surgery w/ Dr. Fargen & neither one had vascular ES surgery, so I don’t know if he shaves C1 or not.
His reason for putting in a stent would be if the IJV didn’t stay open after decompression. In a few cases that happens. Another scenario & my greater concern, not knowing anything about Dr. Fargen’s surgical strategy for vES, is that if C1 is the major reason for Ben’s IJV compression, & Dr. Fargen only shortens the styloid, the compression can remain. Placing a stent might then be suggested. It would be a BAD IDEA in that situation to have a stent placed while compression by C1 still exists.
I’m not trying to scare you but help you think through the worst case scenario since Ben’s situation is more complicated than many due to his autism. It’s really important to make a list of your questions to ask at the initial consult & among them should be how Dr. Fargen handles IJV decompression i.e. Does he cut the styloid back above C1 so it can no longer contribute to compression, in any way? If C1 is the dominant compressor, does he shave it or move the IJV away from it?
In case we you haven’t seen this discussion @Jules wrote about ES surgery, the link is below. Toward the end of the discussion there is a list of questions we recommend asking a doctor during an initial consult.
I’m so sorry it doesn’t sound like it will work out for you to stay in SC for the days after the consult so Ben could have surgery while you’re there. Frustrating for you to have to travel twice with him. I’ll pray for the travel aspect of your appointment to go smoothly & for Ben to be as calm as possible w/ the changes he’ll experience out of his normal routine. I know those can really throw a person in his situation. I’ve put Ben’s consult date on my calendar so I can pray especially around that time. 