What should be done if there is a large amount of pleural effusion after coronary artery bypass surgery?
Disease description:
After my grandfather underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, there was a significant amount of fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. What should be done about this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Qirui
If excessive pleural effusion following coronary artery bypass surgery is caused by a lung infection, antibiotics such as cefixime or amoxicillin may be used under medical supervision to control the infection. If the fluid accumulation compresses the lung tissue, closed thoracic drainage can be performed to remove the accumulated fluid. If the effusion is due to poor cardiac function, medications to improve heart function—such as nifedipine or digoxin—may be prescribed under a doctor's guidance.
