Ms. S who was admitted due to interstitial lung disease has just undergone minithoracotomy was placed on mechanical ventilator due to deteriorating oxygenation in her body. The surgeon suspects pleural effusion or accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space in the lungs. They are considering pleurodesis. A procedure that causes the membranes around the lung to stick together and prevents the build up of fluid in the space between the membranes. This procedure is done in cases of severe recurrent pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), as from cancer, to prevent the reaccumulation of fluid. The doctors want to rule out Mesothelioma also known as Malignant mesothelioma (Source: Medlineplus) According to National Cancer Institute, The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma is cancer of that tissue. It is a rare but serious type of cancer. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. It can take a long time – 30 to 50 years – between being around asbestos and getting the disease. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or all three.
I hope that pleurodesis will work for her.