Pleural effusion after mechanical valve replacement

[Andrea52]

Hi all I’m 26 days post surgery for a mechanical valve I was doing really well but started to notice real shortness of breath when I walked up stairs or on my walks around the block ,it also hurt and made me cough doing my breathing exercises,my legs swelled up so went back to doctor who listened to chest said it was clear and prescribed me water tablets ,I took these and they reduced water retention but I still didn’t feel happy so went back to doctors to ask for chest X-ray and echo ,the chest X-ray showed pleural effusion (fluid on lungs ) so have spent last 2 days in amu unit ,I have 700 ml of fluid on left lung ( funny it’s my right shoulder that’s painful ) my surgeon suggested draining but hospital not happy as I’m on warfarin so are continuing water tablets and says they hope it will go gradually ,will this be the case ? If I up my breathing exercises and walking ? I’m going for an echo this morning so gutted as warfarin not a problem so far and scar amazing ,anyone else had this complication ?

Thanks Andrea

[Fortepiano]

Just to say I'm sorry I missed your post and hope that your pleural effusion is all sorted now.

It is very common after cardiac surgery, but generally clears up gradually without treatment. If it's large it can be drained with a needle, and if it's very large a drain can be put in for a few days, though this is rarely necessary. I had both and definitely preferred the needle to the drain, but I hope yours has cleared up without needing either!

I hope you have no more setbacks with your recovery.

[Andrea52 in reply to Fortepiano]

Thank you for your reply I’m on diuretics at moment walking and doing breathing exercises,feel my breathing is much better so hopefully it is dispersing as don’t like the sound of draining it ,have my six eeek check next week so fingers crossed x

[Fortepiano in reply to Andrea52]

Glad to hear it's resolving. Hope your check goes well.