Dr can't get the fluid out from around my heart

[KayPrice]

My husband, L, has an enlarged heart, as of this June.  Now he has fluid around the heart and the doctor can't get rid of the fluid using diuretics.  He is sooo uncomfortable, can't sleep.  It has been 3 weeks now, with 6 trips to the ER & his Dr.  What should we do now?


This discussion is related to Fluid around the heart (a cups worth!).

[kenkeith]

If the effusion...fluids around the heart between heart muscle and sac covering the heart. is serious, the fluids can reduce the heart's ability to relax and the filing phase of the heart cycle is impeded and exacerbate an enlarged heart. You may want to discuss the condition with an interventional cardiologist as well as the enlarged heart. It seems you should have been referred to a cardiologist for the enlarged heart.

The procedure to remove fluids is to insert a needle and with a cath guide it into the pericardial sac. Echocardiography is used to help position the needle and monitor fluid drainage. Medication can possibly help reduce the heart size.

Thanks for your question, and if you have any followup questions you are welcome to respond.  Take care.

[vohsie]

I believe you need to go to the specialist clinic.
They may have to drain it with a mere laproscopic procedure.
Let me know.