Stomach drain that won't stop draining after a month. What could be wrong?

Question

Major surgery was done in April and the drains were put in, and ever since she has had to go in every month and have a new drain put in or a needle remove the fluid. Had another surgery done on the 29th of Dec. to resolve the fluid probem but it didn't work. She has more fluid now than ever! What could be wrong, and is this ok to keep having a drain put in?She got some kind of staph infection about 3 weeks ago and nearly died. It just seems like theres no window of hope. Wheres this fluid coming from? It hurts her around her liver when the fluid builds up. Please someone give us some answers. Shes really getting depressed

Answer 1

This is an extremely difficult question to answer given the way you've presented it, because it is hard to know exactly what is going on. If the source of the fluid is from cirrhosis or liver failure (called ascites) then it likely won't quit at all without liver transplant. What it is is exudative fluid from the failing liver.

If the original problem was an abscess, then it most definitely needs a drain. That would be consistent with the comment about the staph infection. If that's what's going on, then a drain with antibiotics is the way you treat it.

If there was work done on the bowel or she had a bowel injury and the drain was placed to remove fluid leaking from the bowel, then it will just take time. It is important, though, that the drain not be right against the area that is trying to heal or it will keep the leak open. It can't heal around a foreign body.

If the drain is in the stomach itself to decompress it, it won't stop draining either. This is to allow proximal drainage for situations such as gastric outlet obstruction.

In short, before your question can be answered, we would need to know more about the drain and what it was placed for.