Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 5/3/2008

Question
My 55 year old mother has had four surgeries. In each one of her surgeries, while she was under the anesthesia, her lungs would fill with fluids. Her simple procedures would turn into several days in ICU trying to get the fluid to stop building in her lungs. She needs another surgery and is afraid once again for this reaction. We have never been told why this happens each time. Thank you

Answer
You don't say what other medical problems your mom has but I'll assume she has congestive heart failure. Depending on the type of surgery she is going to have, this may or may not happen again. Certainly you should tell the anesthesiologist what has happened in the past so that he can take measures to reduce the liklihood of it happening again. I can't tell you that it won't happen but if the anesthesiologist knows in advance, it is less likely.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston