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Type 2 Diabetic, Parkinsons Disease, Quadruple Bypass Heart Operation, Swollen Legs, Red Rash On Feet. Help?
Question: MY 75 YEAR OLD HUSBAND WHO IS A TYPE 2 DIABETIC,WITH PARKINSONS DISEASE HAD A QUADRUPLE BYPASS HEART OPERATION IN 2008. iN THE LAST TWO DAYS HIS LEGS HAVE SWOLLEN FROM THE THIGHS TO THE FEET, THERE IS A RED RASH ON THE TOP OF HIS FEET. i CHECKED WITH THIS NEUROLOGIST IT IS NOT FROM MEDICATIONS. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP XXXXXXX
Hello XXXXXXX
Thank you for your query.
As I understand, your husband, who is a diabetic and also has Parkinson's disease and with a past history of NHL and CABG, has developed acute swelling of both legs with a rash on the feet.
The possibilities are:
1) Cardiac cause: Due to heart failure. This would need an ECG and an echocardiogram plus some blood tests like serum BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) level to reach a diagnosis
2) Respiratory cause: Age-related changes in the lung leading to chronic obstructive lung disease, or interstitial lung disease can secondarily cause strain on the right side of the heart and fluid collection.
3) Renal cause: Long standing diabetes can cause kidney disease with resultant fluid overload. Blood and urine tests along with an ultrasound scan of the abdomen will reveal the diagnosis.
4) Liver causes: unlikely in your case.
5) Compression/obstruction of inferior vena cava: If there is a recurrence of NHL with lymph nodes pressing on the vein in the abdomen.
6) Cellulitis: Bacterial infection leading to inflammation (red rash) and secondary swelling of the feet. Can be commonly seen in diabetics.
7) Drugs: Unlikely in your case. The drugs you have listed do not usually cause edema (assuming you have listed all the drugs).
8) Lymphatic edema: Due to blockage of lymphatic vessels by any cause (may be infection, compression, etc).
9) Post -CABG venous insufficiency with superadded infection/cellulitis: Saphenous veins from the legs are commonly used to create the grafts for the bypass surgery. Hence, prolonged standing, travel, etc can lead to pooling of blood in the legs and subsequent edema. This can get secondarily infected leading to red rash.
10) XXXXXXX vein thrombosis leading to blockage of venous return to the heart.
The list is not comprehensive but includes the more likely causes.
Your husband needs a detailed and urgent evaluation by a qualified physician to determine the actual cause for the leg swelling. The treatment will depend on the cause and the exact diagnosis.
I hope this answer helps. Feel free to contact me for any further clarifications.
With regards,
Dr RS Varma
Thank you for your query.
As I understand, your husband, who is a diabetic and also has Parkinson's disease and with a past history of NHL and CABG, has developed acute swelling of both legs with a rash on the feet.
The possibilities are:
1) Cardiac cause: Due to heart failure. This would need an ECG and an echocardiogram plus some blood tests like serum BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) level to reach a diagnosis
2) Respiratory cause: Age-related changes in the lung leading to chronic obstructive lung disease, or interstitial lung disease can secondarily cause strain on the right side of the heart and fluid collection.
3) Renal cause: Long standing diabetes can cause kidney disease with resultant fluid overload. Blood and urine tests along with an ultrasound scan of the abdomen will reveal the diagnosis.
4) Liver causes: unlikely in your case.
5) Compression/obstruction of inferior vena cava: If there is a recurrence of NHL with lymph nodes pressing on the vein in the abdomen.
6) Cellulitis: Bacterial infection leading to inflammation (red rash) and secondary swelling of the feet. Can be commonly seen in diabetics.
7) Drugs: Unlikely in your case. The drugs you have listed do not usually cause edema (assuming you have listed all the drugs).
8) Lymphatic edema: Due to blockage of lymphatic vessels by any cause (may be infection, compression, etc).
9) Post -CABG venous insufficiency with superadded infection/cellulitis: Saphenous veins from the legs are commonly used to create the grafts for the bypass surgery. Hence, prolonged standing, travel, etc can lead to pooling of blood in the legs and subsequent edema. This can get secondarily infected leading to red rash.
10) XXXXXXX vein thrombosis leading to blockage of venous return to the heart.
The list is not comprehensive but includes the more likely causes.
Your husband needs a detailed and urgent evaluation by a qualified physician to determine the actual cause for the leg swelling. The treatment will depend on the cause and the exact diagnosis.
I hope this answer helps. Feel free to contact me for any further clarifications.
With regards,
Dr RS Varma
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Jyoti Patil
Answered by
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