fluid in lungs *update*
- Thread starter rh71
- Start date
I'm three months away from graduating medical school.... so I'll bite, but you have to give me a bit more info. There's many reasons for having fluid in the lungs. Usually, it means heart failure... but you'll have to give me more of the story.
isn't fluid in the lungs the definition of drowning? doesn't have to entail death or anything, iirc, correct? 
Not a doctor, neither are any of these other jokers:
Fluid in the lungs can be caused bya number of things, it's serious at her age no matter what.
The fluid creates an environment where bacteria can thrive. this mean pneumonia. If her immune system is inhibited as it most likely is at her age then it could be mortal.
It's no the fluid that kills you, it's the resluting infection.
Get it?
Fluid in the lungs can be caused bya number of things, it's serious at her age no matter what.
The fluid creates an environment where bacteria can thrive. this mean pneumonia. If her immune system is inhibited as it most likely is at her age then it could be mortal.
It's no the fluid that kills you, it's the resluting infection.
Get it?
911paramedic
Diamond Member
- Jan 7, 2002
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Pulmunary edema can be caused by many things, but most likely its CHF in her case. (I'm guessing, elderly, medical)
People live a long time with that condition if they follow the guidelines and take their meds. If she is in the hospital it's because she can't keep her 02 sats up without exhausting herself, so they are helping her. The extent of the help depends on how serious her presentation is, I have treated with as little as some supplimental 02 and some IV meds, and as drastic as immediate nasal intubation. (they really don't like getting the old nasal intubation that much, the tube is as big around as your pinky)
This is something that continues to get worse though, if it is heart failure the heart continues to get weaker and weaker, so these bouts get more frequent and worsen over time. If it's dealt with quickly and there aren't any complications most people are fine if it's an isolated event.
People live a long time with that condition if they follow the guidelines and take their meds. If she is in the hospital it's because she can't keep her 02 sats up without exhausting herself, so they are helping her. The extent of the help depends on how serious her presentation is, I have treated with as little as some supplimental 02 and some IV meds, and as drastic as immediate nasal intubation. (they really don't like getting the old nasal intubation that much, the tube is as big around as your pinky)
This is something that continues to get worse though, if it is heart failure the heart continues to get weaker and weaker, so these bouts get more frequent and worsen over time. If it's dealt with quickly and there aren't any complications most people are fine if it's an isolated event.
BTW 911paramedic is not a joker, neither is something-something-heartsurgeon, thogh I don't think he posts anymore.
911paramedic
Diamond Member
- Jan 7, 2002
- 9,448
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Pleural effusion is fluid between the lung and the chest wall, he is talking about fluid IN the lungs.
depends on the etiology. chf? new mi? other med hx?
anyway it can be bad or it can be resolved, depending on the cause.
anyway it can be bad or it can be resolved, depending on the cause.
- Aug 28, 2001
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I should also mention that she had early stages of cancer in her lungs and they removed it a few months back.
**UPDATE** Well we went to visit her (my grandmother) in the hospital today... 2 days after being admitted. She's up and around and seems to have regained her strength. They took 300cc's out of her lungs (sounds bad, but she didn't look it). CTscan results still haven't come back (WTF?!)...
Her primary care doc actually suggested she didn't have to go to a hospital in the first place. I think it's time for a new PCP.
Anyway, that's all I know as of right now - no docs around tonight and gp/gm don't speak much English. Thanks for all the feedback.
**UPDATE** Well we went to visit her (my grandmother) in the hospital today... 2 days after being admitted. She's up and around and seems to have regained her strength. They took 300cc's out of her lungs (sounds bad, but she didn't look it). CTscan results still haven't come back (WTF?!)...
Her primary care doc actually suggested she didn't have to go to a hospital in the first place. I think it's time for a new PCP.
Anyway, that's all I know as of right now - no docs around tonight and gp/gm don't speak much English. Thanks for all the feedback.
When they did it to my gf's dad, they numbed up his back, shoved a needle in that nifty numbed area and sucked the fluid out. Made for a weird time since his 2 daughters left because they couldn't watch and the sisters bf (the loser) left too. I basically was the son and all the doctors talked to me about things instead.
Definitely a pleural effusion. The next step for the doctors is to examine the fluid from the chest tube, which will help them determine the cause. Do a search for "pleural effusion" and "transudate versus exudate" which will give you some idea about the differential diagnosis. The first priority now is to rule out a recurrence of cancer.
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