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Lung Disease, Fluid In The Lung. Saturation Level Is Low, Heart Rate High. Problem In Taking The Fluid Out?
my mother has been diagnosed with interstial lung disease (asbestos exposure). She has fluid in her lung and when she was admitted to the hospital a month ago they said they would leave the fluid and put her on Lasix. She came home from the hospital, was home for 2 weeks and is now back in the hospital again. Pulse ox levels on 4 ltr of oxygen are around 90 but dip severely into the low eighties whenever she moves. Her heart rate runs about 110+. We were told that there was twice as much fluid in the lungs than before and they still are wavering about doing a pleural tap. Why wouldn,t they want to get the fluid out?
Mon, 10 Jun 2013
It appears that your mother is seriously ill,taking out the pleural fluid may not help as it may cause a acute collapse of the patient.It is likely to reform rapidly within a day or two if it is secondary to cor pulmonale / right sided heart failure/infection or malignancy.The underlying cause of the problem needs to be treated as removing the fluid alone is not going to help.It would be best to discuss this with her treating doctor/physician.
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