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How can the fluid accumulation in lungs be treated?

Dr Vijay Kher
Chairman,
Department of Nephrology and Kidney transplant Medicine,
Fortis Kidney and Urology Institute,
Fortis Escorts Hospital, New Delhi

Q: My 43 years old uncle had severe cough problem followed by breathlessness. He was referred to cardiologists where he was diagnosed as having fluid accumulation in his lungs, along with high blood pressure and diabetes. The creatinine level was initially 5.09 but now it is 8.39. The fluid from the lungs has been completely removed and he is now stable with normal respiration and cardio functions including BP and diabetes. The USG abdomen shows the kidney size as 9.2 and corticomedullary junction well differentiated, the urine out put is 120ml/hr. Please suggest.

A:It seems your uncle has underlying chronic kidney disease due to diabetes and hypertension and he developed acute fluid overload due to retention of salt and water. Now that his breathing is better and urine output is good, one needs to wait to see recovery of acute deterioration of kidney function which may take 1-3 weeks.