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What Causes Excessive Swelling And Fluid Leakage From The Legs?

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Posted on Thu, 26 May 2016
Question: My husband is in hospice and this evening his legs is leaking fluid. What is the cause of this and should I call his nurse
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
the cause of the swelling would have to be clarified

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

a patient's legs usually leak fluid when there is excessive swelling. This kind of swelling can be caused by various conditions including low albumin (serious infection, cancer, malnutrition, liver disease, proteinuria, etc), heart failure, vein insufficiency, vein thrombosis, infections (erysipelas, cellulitis), etc.

The cause has to be clarified. If the cause is already known then appropriate treatment would have to be instituted. The treatment depends on the underlying condition (antibiotic treatment for infections, diuretics for heart failure, etc).

Of course the nurse should know about this in order to take the necessary steps towards diagnosis and/or treatment or to call the doctor.

Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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What Causes Excessive Swelling And Fluid Leakage From The Legs?

Brief Answer: the cause of the swelling would have to be clarified Detailed Answer: Hello, a patient's legs usually leak fluid when there is excessive swelling. This kind of swelling can be caused by various conditions including low albumin (serious infection, cancer, malnutrition, liver disease, proteinuria, etc), heart failure, vein insufficiency, vein thrombosis, infections (erysipelas, cellulitis), etc. The cause has to be clarified. If the cause is already known then appropriate treatment would have to be instituted. The treatment depends on the underlying condition (antibiotic treatment for infections, diuretics for heart failure, etc). Of course the nurse should know about this in order to take the necessary steps towards diagnosis and/or treatment or to call the doctor. Kind Regards!