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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Yellow, Puss Looking Fluid Coming Out Of The Chest Tube?

My brother is on a ventilator and has major lung damage he has chest tubes on both sides. His right chest tube is draining a yellow, puss looking fluid. Could his tissue on his lungs be coming off and coming down the tube. If it is I was told in a few days his skin would start doing the same thing.
Thu, 9 Apr 2015
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
No the thing you are saying is not lung tissue.
It is pus in the pleural cavity which is coming out in the chest tube.
By your history and description, your brother might be having severe bilateral lung infection (severe pneumonia) .
And in severe pneumonia, if not improving and worsening further then pus is accumulating in the surrounded pleural cavity.
And for removal of this pus, chest tube are placed.
Pus is thick, yellow, infectious fluid. So, the thing you are talking about is pus from the pleural cavity and not the lung tissue.
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What Is The Yellow, Puss Looking Fluid Coming Out Of The Chest Tube?

Thanks for your question on HCM. No the thing you are saying is not lung tissue. It is pus in the pleural cavity which is coming out in the chest tube. By your history and description, your brother might be having severe bilateral lung infection (severe pneumonia) . And in severe pneumonia, if not improving and worsening further then pus is accumulating in the surrounded pleural cavity. And for removal of this pus, chest tube are placed. Pus is thick, yellow, infectious fluid. So, the thing you are talking about is pus from the pleural cavity and not the lung tissue.