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Is It Normal To Have Reactionary Fluid In The Pleural Sac Post VATS Surgery?
Posted on
Sat, 7 Feb 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 7 Feb 2015
Answered on
Wed, 11 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : 4 months ago, I fell from the bed. injured my long. Had vats surgery 2 months ago. Some fluid wAS LEFT POST-SURGICALLY (NON-PERFECR DRAINAGE). 7 weeks after the surgery, fluid in one pocket is still there as confirmed by chest x-rays and ct-scan. The surgeon says it will be absorbed in the body by 3 months. I have my doubts. Besides, now since one week I have throat and chest irritation and cough out mucous (white) of ten. I am uncomfortable with this with fear lurking, may be it will lead to some thing bigger. The internist is not sure whether it is related to post-surgical fluid left or some thing separate (allergy, etc). Besides, I am not gaining weight wchich i lost after surgery. I do not know know what is going on. Want advice and clarification. By theway, cancer test were done during surgery, and things were negative.
Brief Answer:
ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration is need
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion, you should first get done ultrasound examination of chest and ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration. Send aspirated fluid for
1. Routine microscopic examination.
2. Culture and sensitivity
3. Protein and sugar.
All these tests are required to rule out infective etiology.
It is normal to have reactionary fluid in the pleural sac after VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery). It is serous fluid and transudative in nature. It usually absorbs in 2-3 weeks. If persisting beyond this can cause infection because fluid can cultivate organisms.
So your throat and chest irritation with mucus cough can be due to infection. So infective etiology in fluid must be rule out first.
So ultrasound examination is needed. It will also guide in aspiration of fluid so that above mentioned tests can be done to diagnose the fluid.
Better to consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration is need
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion, you should first get done ultrasound examination of chest and ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration. Send aspirated fluid for
1. Routine microscopic examination.
2. Culture and sensitivity
3. Protein and sugar.
All these tests are required to rule out infective etiology.
It is normal to have reactionary fluid in the pleural sac after VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery). It is serous fluid and transudative in nature. It usually absorbs in 2-3 weeks. If persisting beyond this can cause infection because fluid can cultivate organisms.
So your throat and chest irritation with mucus cough can be due to infection. So infective etiology in fluid must be rule out first.
So ultrasound examination is needed. It will also guide in aspiration of fluid so that above mentioned tests can be done to diagnose the fluid.
Better to consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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