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What Does My CT Scan Report Indicate?
Question: My father just had a mitral valve replacement 8 days ago and is having complications. We just got the results of a heart and lung CT and i would like to understand what the following means:
1. large pericardial effusion
2. atelectasis
3. 4 mm non obstructing left upper pole renal calculus
4. punctate foci of gas within pericardial effusion within the pericardial fat
1. large pericardial effusion
2. atelectasis
3. 4 mm non obstructing left upper pole renal calculus
4. punctate foci of gas within pericardial effusion within the pericardial fat
Brief Answer:
Please, find detailed answers below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
From mensioned 1,2,4 are signs of complications.
1. Pericardial efusion is an accumulation of a liquid around the heart. In case of patients after heart surgery, usually it is blood accumulation around the heart. Large effusion contains a big amount of blood, which considered a complication of heart surgery. Large effusions can press the heart, so heart can't work properly. Usually in case of large effusions punction ot the effusion is performed to remove the blood to let the heart work properly. Soetimes reopening of thorax is needed to fix the problem, which leads accumulation of blood. It depends what is the underlying cause.
2. Atelectasis is the part of the lung which doesn't breathe. It can be a complication to any surgery with general anesthesy. Usually they disappear gradually with rehabilitation.
3. Renal calculus is an accidental finding and has no clinical significance.
4. small quantity of gas can be observed in pericardium after any puncture or heart surgery. so if the gas amount is not large, nothing to worry
Hope I could help you
Wishing a good health to your father
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Please, find detailed answers below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
From mensioned 1,2,4 are signs of complications.
1. Pericardial efusion is an accumulation of a liquid around the heart. In case of patients after heart surgery, usually it is blood accumulation around the heart. Large effusion contains a big amount of blood, which considered a complication of heart surgery. Large effusions can press the heart, so heart can't work properly. Usually in case of large effusions punction ot the effusion is performed to remove the blood to let the heart work properly. Soetimes reopening of thorax is needed to fix the problem, which leads accumulation of blood. It depends what is the underlying cause.
2. Atelectasis is the part of the lung which doesn't breathe. It can be a complication to any surgery with general anesthesy. Usually they disappear gradually with rehabilitation.
3. Renal calculus is an accidental finding and has no clinical significance.
4. small quantity of gas can be observed in pericardium after any puncture or heart surgery. so if the gas amount is not large, nothing to worry
Hope I could help you
Wishing a good health to your father
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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