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What Causes Recurrent Pleural Effusion?
Question: I have had shortness of breath and on Friday Dec 2 my lung doctor did a thoracentesis and drained out about 2500 cc of fluid from my pleural cavity. The color looked like urine. Over the weekend I think my body refilled the pleural cavity because I went into the hospital and on Monday Dec 5 the lung doctor drew out 3300 cc of blood colored fluid from my right lung. Last night I noticed that the right side of my body had fluid inside of my skin and my guess is that I am leaking urine from my right kidney into my body instead of flowing down into my bladder. I do have a follow up appointment today Dec 6 with a different lung doctor at 4:00 pm. I think I need a nephrologist to assist on this situation.
Brief Answer:
You need a complete body check to arrive at a diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
The diagnosis is pleural effusion as you said but what is the cause? How can doctor remove such large quantities of fluid without arriving at a diagnosis.
There are many causes of recurrent pleural effusion and some of them quite ominous which may include malignancy.
You need to get into a hospital for a complete check up. This will include beside the routine check, examination of pleural fluid( biochemistry, cytology for malignant cells and various stains and cultures), xray chest and CT Chest, bronchoscopy, pleural biopsy, Echo cardiogram and many more other tests for other organs.
Fluid on right side of the body could be because of leakage of pleural fluid from the puncture wound caused by the needle from where pleural fluid was taken out though you have not elaborated on this aspect much.
Hence get a complete health check done without wasting any more time.
Take care.
You need a complete body check to arrive at a diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
The diagnosis is pleural effusion as you said but what is the cause? How can doctor remove such large quantities of fluid without arriving at a diagnosis.
There are many causes of recurrent pleural effusion and some of them quite ominous which may include malignancy.
You need to get into a hospital for a complete check up. This will include beside the routine check, examination of pleural fluid( biochemistry, cytology for malignant cells and various stains and cultures), xray chest and CT Chest, bronchoscopy, pleural biopsy, Echo cardiogram and many more other tests for other organs.
Fluid on right side of the body could be because of leakage of pleural fluid from the puncture wound caused by the needle from where pleural fluid was taken out though you have not elaborated on this aspect much.
Hence get a complete health check done without wasting any more time.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
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