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What Causes Recurrent Shortness Of Breath After Pleurodesis?
Hi, my name is Andres Escobar, i m 21 years old, recently treated for a spontaneous neumothorax (primary), concluded by a pleurodesis (thoracoscopy) two weeks ago. I was in the hospital for 10 days, for 7 days with a thoracic tube, the fistula that created the neumothorax didn t close naturally and the operation was needed and successful. My question is, ever since I was operated and left the hospital, I have recurrent breathing spasm , or nervous breathing, where I feel that I am going out of breathe and my lungs expand in a very strange and fast way. Why does this happen and what can I do about it?
Fri, 12 Apr 2019
Hello,
In pleurodesis, a chemical is injected between the two pleural layers via a chest tube.
These chemicals then cause inflammation which in turn causes scarring.
This scarring pulls and holds the two membranes together so that fluid or air can no longer build up and collect in the space.
The response to this procedure was complete in most patients and partial in few.
The overall success rate was 91.6%. In post-procedure, the most common complaints of the patients are chest pain, dyspnea, burning and fever.
Within a few days, patients should feel better and begin to breathe more easily.
In rare cases, pleurodesis may fail. In these cases, the procedure did not adequately seal the pleural space, resulting in another pleural effusion. If it doesn’t work, pleurodesis may be repeated.
Alternatively, a surgeon may install a shunt to drain fluids regularly. Visit your pulmonologist, he may procure your CT-Chest to detect any new pneumothorax patches.
Be propped up, take some analgesics and counseling sos.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr AJEET SINGH, General & Family Physician
In pleurodesis, a chemical is injected between the two pleural layers via a chest tube.
These chemicals then cause inflammation which in turn causes scarring.
This scarring pulls and holds the two membranes together so that fluid or air can no longer build up and collect in the space.
The response to this procedure was complete in most patients and partial in few.
The overall success rate was 91.6%. In post-procedure, the most common complaints of the patients are chest pain, dyspnea, burning and fever.
Within a few days, patients should feel better and begin to breathe more easily.
In rare cases, pleurodesis may fail. In these cases, the procedure did not adequately seal the pleural space, resulting in another pleural effusion. If it doesn’t work, pleurodesis may be repeated.
Alternatively, a surgeon may install a shunt to drain fluids regularly. Visit your pulmonologist, he may procure your CT-Chest to detect any new pneumothorax patches.
Be propped up, take some analgesics and counseling sos.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr AJEET SINGH, General & Family Physician
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