Collapsed lung? What do they do about it?

Question

My uncle is 75 and had pneumonia. He had fluid around his lung and this happened. They say he needs surgery. What happens next?

Answer 1

the surgery is a minor one. It is done with local anesthetic. A small incision is made in the chest wall thru to the lung cavity and a tube is inserted to a suction set up. The tube and suction gently removes the fluid build up so the lung can re-expand. Ordinarily, the chest tube will stay in place for 4 to 7 days before they remove it and close the chest again.

Answer 2

I was in my 40's.I had 2 typ's of pneumonia at the same time.I'm stubborn and hate hospitals.I was sick for a month.Than I started to spit blood like a lung shot deer.I new than I was in trouble.Went to hospital and the first thing thay did was stick a very large sirenge in my back to pull out fluid from my lung and reinflate my lung.It did not work.Than thay put 2 two tubes about 3/4" round in my side to drain the fluid.It was on a small pump.The fluid ate the first and second wall of my lung away.And I got worse under the hospital care.I needed surgery to repair the lung.To this day I have ownly 3/4's of a lung on my right side.Thay did not think I would make it.My temp was 104 sometimes to 106 sometimes.It was painful.But the Lord had other plans for me.Today I still smoke and I'm very active.Thay said I should have die.Pray your uncle is not stubborn like me or it can be deadly for him.

Answer 3

It depends on how severe the collapse is or if there is any damage to the lining of the lung.

In some cases, they can simply make a small incision in between the ribs and insert a tube which allows for the re-inflation of the lung.

If it is worse or if there is worry of it occuring again, they can administer a substance inside the chest cavity which coats the inner chest wall and the outside of the lung. Then they re-inflate the lung, and it causes irritation which forces the lung to fuse to the chest wall. This will prevent further collapse.

That is my only experience.

Answer 4

I had a freind who had a collapsed lung. and what the drs did was put him on a machine that basic worked like a helium thing that blew up balloons and kept him comfortable with moraphine.. so he was on the machine for about a week then got off and was fine.. i hope this helps some. and i hope ur uncle feels better .. goodluck cowboy!!