what can prevent someone that has had heart surgery from getting fluid in their lungs ?

Question

my mom had a single bypass done on the 13th of december and has had to have her lungs drained 3 times . I need help here

Answer 1

After surgery that requires general anesthesia, you are usually given a device to exercise your lungs, or are asked to cough every few hours. That will prevent fluid collection in the lungs.

Answer 2

Persistent fluid in the lungs combined with a significant cardiovascular history indicates a deeper problem. Has your mother been diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) or cardiomyopathy? She may also have pulmonary edema if she sustained damage to the left side of her heart prior to the bypass. Does she have problems breathing while sleeping? Does she need to sit-up to breathe effectively? What are her pulse oximeter saturations?

The physician may recommend a course of loop diuretics to reduce the edema (fluid in her lungs). If the problem is cardiac in nature, she may also need a drug that will reduce "afterload," or the resistance against which her heart beats. This allows the heart to pump more effectively, thereby reducing circulatory stasis (back up of blood in the lungs which can cause fluid in the lungs).

There are many causes for her condition and treatment depends on cause. Good luck on resolving the problem!

Answer 3

Lasix (furosemide).