Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers : Thoracentesis to Alleviate Mesothelioma
What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly type of cancer and the most difficult to treat. It is caused by tiny thread-like asbestos fibers that enter into the body through inhalation or ingestion. Once these fibers enter the body, they can cause one of three types of mesothelioma (pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma).
The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, or the type that affects the lungs. The main complaint of patients who have this type of mesothelioma cancer is chest pain and discomfort. These symptoms are actually being caused by a problem known as pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is a problem because it causes an excess of fluid to build up in the chest and putting pressure on the lungs.
Once a patient is diagnosed with pleural effusion from mesothelioma, thoracentesis must be employed. This procedure consists of inserting a tiny tube into the pleural cavity of a patient to drain out all the excess fluid and alleviate the pressure on the lungs. The procedure is relatively short in time, only taking about a quarter of an hour to complete. Although this is a helpful procedure, there are also many complications that can occur reports Boston Mesothelioma Attorneys.
The risks during thoracentesis for mesothelioma decrease greatly if the procedure is coupled with the use of an ultrasound. Using this type of diagnostic tool helps a doctor to see a better picture of the chest area and perform the thoracentesis more accurately. It is also a fact that individuals who have thicker and more protein infused pleural effusions are more likely to have complications with a thoracentesis than patients who have a thin and watery exudate. Unfortunately, when pleural mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, the fluid in the lungs tends to be thicker than normal, making thoracentesis a more dangerous process.
The actual process of thoracentesis comes with side effects as well. Pain, bruising, bleeding, infection and collapsed lung are all the unfortunate possible consequences of this treatment. This is why a mesothelioma cancer patient will need to work closely with an oncologist to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers : Thoracentesis to Alleviate Mesothelioma.
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