Fluid around the right lung after CAB Surgery 4 months ago

My 56 yrs old father has fluid around his right lung since his CAB surgery in Dec 2010. They had to open him up 3 times. He has not be able to get rid of the fluid around his lung and his Doctors has no clue why. Now he has a thingy on his right side to drain the fluid everyday at home. Now there is blood coming out with his fluid. Can anymore give any information what we can do? This is scaring me to death and I know he is scared worst then me.

[curmudgen]

You should be asking your doctor.  there shouldn't be blood in the drain.

[kenkeith]

Large pleural effusions sometimes occur after coronary artery bypass grafting, but their characteristics and clinical course are largely unknown. These effusions can be most appropriately categorized by time intervals are perioperative (within the first week);  early (within the first month);  late (2 to 12 months); and persistent (after 6 months).  

I am providing a comprehensive link that is difficult to paraphrase specifically for your convenience, but you should be able to associate your father's symptoms, etc. for a perspective  where you and your father can associate with some specificity.

Thank you for your questions, take care,

Ken

http://www.chestnet.org/accp/pccsu/new-classification-pleural-effusions-after-cabg-surgery?page=0,3







Pre-operative haemoglobin was significant in determining the total units of blood received by a patient. Increasing total bypass time caused a significant increase in the percentage reduction of the pre-operative platelet count (p<0.004). However even though there was an increasing trend of post-operative bleeding with increase in total bypass time, this was not significant from the analysis (p<0.069). The percentage reduction in platelet count and immediate postoperative platelet count were significant predictors of postoperative bleeding (p<0.009) and (p<0.003) respectively. Conclusion: Pre-operative haemoglobin, percentage reduction in the platelet count after cardiopulmonary bypass and immediate postoperative platelet count are significant predictors of postoperative bleeding and blood requirements.

[ed34]

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Many thanks