Comments on: “Are Pleural Effusions Common After Heart Valve Surgery?” Asks Jan

By: Nancy Trojanowski

Nancy Trojanowski — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:43:07 +0000

My mom had her aortic valve replaced in October 2011 and has had two pleural effusions with thoracentesis. They have now placed a pleurx catheter in her which we will drain at home. Has anyone had any experience with this complication following open heart surgery.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:18:11 +0000

Hello,
I had my mitral valve repaired in Sept. 2009 at age 57. I am very active, work out daily and was in great shape. My symptoms were shortness of breath and extreme fatigue and they came on quite suddenly. I recovered fine and went back to working out. About 6 months later I passed out in a store and had to be taken by ambulance to the ER. They said everything was fine. Since then, I am still short of breath on exertion with chest pressure and still get that extreme fatigue sometimes. Not just tired but the extreme fatigue a cardiology patient gets. I have had every test on me they can do including going to a pulmonary doctor. Everything is fine. My valve is fine.
I feel my life has totally changed since my surgery. I can no longer work out. When the fatigue hits I get out the 5 hour energy drinks since the doctors say there is nothing wrong with me.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Linda

By: Danni

Danni — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:37:29 +0000

Hello all,

I am a 28 year old female and I underwent open heart surgery on March 14, 2011 at UCSF. I had my aortic valve replaced with a bovine valve. I used my incentive spirometer more than most patients according to the nursing staff and I even took it home and used it for weeks in fear of lung complications. I too experienced a pleural effusion after surgery in my 3rd week post op. I was having difficulty breathing and an old rib injury was really flaring up because of it. I didn’t know what it was until they took an x-ray and found the fluid. They sent me home with a diuretic and potassium pills to dilute the water retaining sodium. I took those and drank little water for a week and dehydration pulled the fluid out. No drain tubes. It reocurred in my 5th week post op, so I called in to get more diuretic and potassium pills. This time it cleared up in around 3 days from pure dehydration. I guess when dehydrated other areas of your body need the fluid so it pulls it right out. I was told to stay hydrated after surgery, so I was surprised of this treatment but it worked and was way better than tubes Hope this helps!!

By: Fran Zilko

Fran Zilko — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:33:38 +0000

Hi Donna
I had a tricuspid repair and a bovine mitral valve surgery almost a year ago. Two weeks after surgery and after severe shortness of breath I had a thoracentesis as an outpatient and almost one gallon of fluid was removed from one lung cavity. Several days later I had a quart removed from the other lung cavity. I used my incentive spirometer several times a day after that and did that for a couple of months. The fluid never did return and was told this was not an unusual post op complication. There have been several people on this site that have had this same problem but am not aware that they have permanent tubes in place as you do. Did you have lung issues going into the surgery? Were you told to use your spirometer? Hope they are wrong and this will clear up a lot sooner than predicted.

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:02:47 +0000

On May 20th 2010, I had a mechanical aortic valve replacement, my mitral valve repaired & one bypass. I went home one week later. I returned to the hospital the following July & had to have chest tubes in both sides> They drained a total of 2500 ml from both lungs> I am now at home with Pluerx chest tubes that i have to drain at least once a day. I get anywhere from 600 to 1200 ml off each side daily! The doctors say this could go on for a year!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories! I don’t feel so alone now!

By: swamy

swamy — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:09:15 +0000

My father underwent triple bypass with Mitral Valve Replacement in October. He has since been drained twice(both within a fortnight of the surgery) and has since been asymptomatic though the most recent xray still shows pleural effusion. Fingers crossed on how things are going to unfold.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:47:50 +0000

My mum has recently had aortic valve replacement 3 days ago, she is out of ITU today whith breathing difficulties, a chest xray today showed fluid on the lung. A few days ago while in ITU she had problems breathing and was told that her right lung had deflated. She is also very hot and sweaty and cannot complete a sentence as she is so breathless, she is currently on 4 litres of oxygen. What is her prognoses of recovering?
Regards Karen.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:18:08 +0000

Hi Adam,
I’m frustrated and looking for answers. I had valve replacement and bi-pass surgery almost a year ago and for the third time I’m experiencing pleural effusion and will probably have to have it drained again.
Does anyone have any answers or suggestions to prevent this?
Thanks so much.
Bill

P.S. We appreciate your book.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:51:27 +0000

I had my aortic valve replaced with a bovine valve Jan. 2005. I had a pleural effusion in my right lung post surgery and had some difficulty with pain and breathing for a few days. I was given a diaretic and got rid of the fluid naturally in two days. I did not need to have it drained.

By: K.C.Mittal

K.C.Mittal — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:22:19 +0000

My wife aged 72 years went into surgery for the replacement of aortic valve in a DELHI hospital, in August 2008. After about 30 days she was detected having pleural effusion of the pericardium and lungs. She was taken back to the same hospital. Pericardial effusion was removed by a special catheter, and it was about 800 grama, it was something like puss It did not stop and carried on slowly. The pleural effusion was not removed. The doctors prescribed certain medicines, and discharged her, and declared she had some infection pericardial effusion did not stop so a window was opened , she could not recover and died after 20 days due to sepsis and DIC. She was given a lot of blood and platelets transfusions. I believe she died due to unavailability of the required treatment. What do you say?