Pleural Effusion

[stan carey]

I had a liver transplant one year and six months ago. Nothing was done about a pleural effusion that that i had for a year until i went to a pulmonologist independent of my transplant doctors. ive had it drained six times since then. first two times drained a liter , next two times 500cc ,last two times 300cc. doctor say that its loculated. its very uncomfortable ,hard to sleep. keeping from leading a healthy active life. fluid and pain seems to move around from one area to another increasing and abating as it moves. it feels like i have a big air bubble moving around. seems to be worse when im full from eating and at knight when im lying down.it also feels like it is stretching the surrounding muscles. whats my next option ? does putting in a tube and try draining it for a few days and see if it heals seem like a first step before i try any thing else? I also have puritits. thanks

[Davy9]

It is possible that the effusion was precipitated by the prior liver disease, the transplant or just the extensive abdominal surgery required for the transplant. You have had it drained several times and the volume is slowly diminishing. The Doctor said it is loculated meaning that it is captured in some pleural scarring. That scarring process could be naturally occurring and slowly closing up the area that is weeping. (I am assuming the effusion is not infectious) It could simply stop on it own. They can accelerate this scarring process using sclerosing agents but your description does not sound bad enough for this measure.

If the other sensations you describe go away after the effusion has been drained then you can assume that they will go away when the effusion stops forming. If not then they may not be entirely due to the effusion or its processes.

I suspect that your doctor advised you to give it time and I would agree with that. It seems to be slowly resolving on it own.