Introduction A lung abscess is a circumscribed melting of lung tissue. In the process, abscess cavities are formed, which almost always have purulent contents. There are different causes for this, mostly in connection with infections. Causes The causes are usually severe pneumonia, pulmonary infarction, aspiration of purulent secretions (e.g. from a purulent tonsillitis), emphysema, bronchiectasis, … Pulmonary abscess
Diagnosis The diagnosis of a lung abscess can often be made on the basis of the clinical picture. X-rays of the lungs are then used to prove the diagnosis. A computer tomography then shows the exact course of the abscess cavity. The blood count shows an increase in inflammation values, such as CRP, leukocytes and … Diagnosis | Pulmonary abscess
Complications Complicated courses of a pulmonary abscess consist in a permanent fistula formation (especially in chronic abscesses) and in a breakthrough into the lung tissue. Severe cases can develop septically, i.e. with life-threatening accompanying symptoms that can lead to death. Another serious complication is the gangrene of the lung tissue, i.e. the death of entire … Complications | Pulmonary abscess
How can a lung abscess be distinguished from a lung tumor? If the radiological image of the lung shows a roundish structure in the area of the lung tissue, a tumor must always be diagnostically excluded, even if in most cases it is inflammation, abscesses or other lung diseases. Important indications of an abscess are … How can a lung abscess be distinguished from a lung tumor? | Pulmonary abscess
Synonyms pneumonia after surgery, pneumonia after surgery, pneumonia after surgery, postoperative pneumonia, postoperative pneumonia Definition Pneumonia is generally an acute or chronic inflammatory process in the lung tissue. If the pneumonia occurs immediately after surgery, it is called postoperative pneumonia (technical term: pneumonia). Introduction An operation always involves a multitude of possible risks. Although complications … Pneumonia after OP
Causes Since the immune system is weakened anyway after a long operation, postoperative pneumonia can quickly lead to complications. The so-called respiratory insufficiency is one of the most feared complications in this context. Since the affected patients can only breathe inadequately due to the inflammatory processes within the lung tissue, the oxygen supply to all … Causes | Pneumonia after OP
Therapy The treatment of pneumonia occurring after surgery depends on both the extent of the inflammatory processes and the general condition of the patient concerned. Initially, the affected person is supplied with oxygen through a so-called oxygen goggle. This is intended to improve the oxygen saturation of the red blood cells. In the case of … Therapy | Pneumonia after OP
Risk of infection Pneumonia is an infectious disease caused by bacterial or viral pathogens (more rarely by fungi). Regardless of whether it is a classical pneumonia or a post-operative pneumonia, this disease is contagious. The causative pathogens are usually transmitted by droplet infection. Pneumonia is therefore contagious when one comes into contact with the infected … Risk of infection | Pneumonia after OP
Duration of pneumonia after surgery It is extremely difficult to make statements about the duration of pneumonia after surgery. If the course of the disease is uncomplicated, if the body responds quickly to the antibiotics administered and if the patient’s immune system is intact, one can assume a duration of two to three weeks. However, … Duration of pneumonia after surgery | Pneumonia after OP
Pneumonia after lung surgery Even with operations on the lungs, it must often be assumed that the patient suffers from pre-existing conditions. These often affect the lungs directly. For example, patients who have to undergo operations in specialist lung clinics are often smokers, suffer from chronic bronchitis or COPD. Due to the close functional relationship … Pneumonia after lung surgery | Pneumonia after OP
