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What Causes Excessive Coughing After Lung Injury?
Question: i had a fall from bed 4 months ago, injured my lung, l had vats suegery 7 weeks ago. Some fluid was left pos-surgically, which still exists uptil now ( a chest x-ray and ct scan). Surgeon says it will go away in 3 months. I do not believe it since it has not been absorbed in 7 weeks. There is no guarantee. Since one week, I have started coughing out mucous (white), and internist here says it is not related to fluid left in the pocket in lung post-surgically. It is uncomfortable and I am worried about. The surgery was done non-locally and so access to original surgeon is not there. Any guidance, clarification, suggestion or treatment ?
Brief Answer:
get ultrasound examination of chest done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion you should get ultrasound examination of chest doneand ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration. Also, get pleural fluid examination for
1. Routine microscopy
2. Protein sugar
3. Culture and sensitivity.
All of the above are needed to rule out infection in fluid.
Some amount of fluid is seen in pleura after surgery, it is known as reactionary fluid. It is transudative in nature and absorb in 2-3 weeks post VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery).
But if fluid is persisting even after 7 weeks, we need to rule out infective etiology first.
For fluid in the pleura, ultrasound examination is best. It will also tell you about echogenicity of the fluid, septae present or not. And most importantly, it will guide the aspiration of fluid.
So my suggestion is to first rule out infection in the fluid,and then start appropriate treatment
Better to consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
get ultrasound examination of chest done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
In my opinion you should get ultrasound examination of chest doneand ultrasound guided pleural fluid aspiration. Also, get pleural fluid examination for
1. Routine microscopy
2. Protein sugar
3. Culture and sensitivity.
All of the above are needed to rule out infection in fluid.
Some amount of fluid is seen in pleura after surgery, it is known as reactionary fluid. It is transudative in nature and absorb in 2-3 weeks post VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgery).
But if fluid is persisting even after 7 weeks, we need to rule out infective etiology first.
For fluid in the pleura, ultrasound examination is best. It will also tell you about echogenicity of the fluid, septae present or not. And most importantly, it will guide the aspiration of fluid.
So my suggestion is to first rule out infection in the fluid,and then start appropriate treatment
Better to consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dr. Bhavsar:
Thanks, however, for a surgeon to say that it will go away in 3 months, seems to be misleading. I will try to seek apulmonologist and suggest your tests. However, to find a pulmonologist to see the US is time consuming (minimum 2 months). However, I am going to try to get to see a pulmonologist asap. Thanks again for your advice. XXXXXXX
Thanks, however, for a surgeon to say that it will go away in 3 months, seems to be misleading. I will try to seek apulmonologist and suggest your tests. However, to find a pulmonologist to see the US is time consuming (minimum 2 months). However, I am going to try to get to see a pulmonologist asap. Thanks again for your advice. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
you can also discuss with infection specialist.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for the follow up question on HCM.
You can also discuss these with infectious disease specialist, if pulmonologist's appointment takes 2 months.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries then please close the conversation and rate the answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.my/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Do let me know your progression.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
you can also discuss with infection specialist.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for the follow up question on HCM.
You can also discuss these with infectious disease specialist, if pulmonologist's appointment takes 2 months.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries then please close the conversation and rate the answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.my/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Do let me know your progression.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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