Fluid in the lungs?

Question

My Uncle is 75 with a collapsed lung and liquid around it. The liquid is too thick to be drained. Pneumonia brought it on. Now he has to have an operation to remove it. Does anyone know anything about this? It sounds pretty bad to me.

Answer 1

Hi - There is a thin layer of tissue around the lung called the visceral pleura, and another layer of tissue on the inside of the ribcage/chest wall called the parietal pleura. Normally these two layers are separated only by a little bit of lubrication fluid and are pretty much right up next to each other. Sometimes though, something happens and "stuff" gets between the two layers. That stuff can be watery, bloody, full of pus...many combinations. Since pneumonia can be a nasty infection, it can easily offset the balance and make fluid accumulate in this space. Since the ribs ar enot flexible, the lung has to shrink in as the space gets more and more full. Often the lung simply collapses. Since there are spaces between the ribs, we try to drain the fluid via a big needle at the bedside first. We always use local anesthetics to try to make it as low-pain as possible. If the fluid is too thick to do at the bedside, the patient has to go to the operating room to have a different type of drain put in. Either way, if the pneumonia gave him the pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural space), and the pneumonia gets cleared up, he can recover. Good luck to you both.

Answer 2

Thick Fluid In Lungs

Answer 3

my 88 year old mother was traumatized by an accident where a store fixture fell down on her and pinned her between a cart and the downed fixture. There were no injuries except in her mind, "what could have been". Since then she has had so many health issues including fluid on her lung, first the right one which was cleared with Lasix, That lung cleared, now the fluid is in her left lung. The doctor is wanting a stress test. What is the reason? could it be heart related?

Answer 4

Collapsed lung they will put a chest tube in to reinflate the lung. The liquid around it, they will drain the fluid out with a needle to get the fluid. The fluid may come back though. Many risk will be involved. The major ones are infection and bleeding. but everything has its risk. Good luck.

Answer 5

You can't tell if you have wet lungs but a nurse, doctor or respiratory therapist could. But don't jump to conclusions and make the mistake of self-diagnosing. Shortness of breath can have other causes besides wet lungs and shortness of breath and other forms of dyspnea can leave a person feeling weak and tired. You haven't mentioned pain on inspiration so I have to presume you have none. Stay upright while awake and elevate your head when in bed with an extra pillow. Either visit an Urgent Care clinic soon or call your doctor in the morning. If your breathing worsens or you begin to experience air hunger, call 911.

Answer 6

I just got over pneumonia. I am not too sure of my spelling but they probably need to do a thoracentisis to drain fluid. The dr. said it "no biggie". To me a band aid is huge. Your uncle can get better ,be with him,it always makes the pt feel better knowing there is someone .

Answer 7

they had to remove fluid from my wifes lung. they put a large needle in her back and then drained the fluid off. she was not put to sleep, and it was very painful. they can't numb lung tissue.i wish him well.

Answer 8

Sounds like he has pleurisy*http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/pleurisy-pleuresie/index_e.php
Best wishes*