Is it normal to have popping sounds in your right side at wound site whilst coughing after oesphajectomy?

[Shoad]

Hi everyone

My husband had oesphajectomy almost 5 weeks ago now he’s had bad cough the whole time as he is also ex smoker but when he coughs now he can feel popping and sloshing in his right side around the surgery site (not painful just uncomfortable) and I can feel it if I put my hand on it. Did that happen to anyone else? Is is normal or should I be calling the CNS for advice? Any experiences gratefully received, thank you.

Sacha

[Hon-Moonraker]

It's weird but remember your stomach is now in a portrait position. I find if I lay on my left in bed I can hear all my stomach noises which I can effect by holding my breath then breathing out etc. I assume it's because my stomach now runs north to south and is therefore closer to my lungs. That said, I have recently learned my anatomically altered stomach isn't emptying as quickly as it should (which is quite common apparently after oesophagectomy). I have to have a bit of a stretch. So that may some baring. I may be your husband has the same thing, but on the right whilst mine is on the left.

[Shoad in reply to Hon-Moonraker]

Thank you some good advice there hadn’t thought of any of that. X

[Shoad]

So a doctor friend of a friend says it is most likely surgical emphysema

[Shoad in reply to Shoad]

Just an update, my husband had a CXR done and it shows a small pneumothorax so he has been referred back to surgeons to decide what to do, his lung is still partially deflated at the bottom but I think that’s to be expected.

[Shoad]

*UPDATE* It seems my husband has a lung hernia which is causing his lung to push through the chest wall where he was opened up, so will need an operation to repair it, it is a rare complication.

[Janashlin in reply to Shoad]

Oh dear, best of luck to your husband.