A friend of mine, a female patient, had a CABG done but she has been experiencing unusual symptoms after the surgery that her surgeon unfortunately ignored. She experienced severe leg swelling to the point she couldn't walk and due to malpractice the blisters in her leg resulted in an infection. Right after the surgery she experienced a really bad pedal edema to the point they had to double up the lacix dosage, she is currently on lacix and keeps retaining fluid, I didn't see any leg swelling as a side effect of a CABG which is why I'm concerned if something went wrong with the surgery, also she has been experiencing pleuritic chest pain to the point she cant take a full deep breath, along with a stabbing chest pain as well. They did a CXR and an ECHO but they said it was normal, she keeps asking her doctor what's the plan since she knows her body and knows something is not right but they keep saying everything comes back negative and are more concerned about the swelling...if there is anyone that knows of what could've possibly happened during that surgery that's causing all this please help us. My friend is going through depression as well that has exacerbated after the surgery which was 2 months ago, and we need as many answers as possible. Thank you so much.
A saphe nous vein is harvested to bypass the diseased coronary arteries. This is very common. Removing a major vein in the leg will affect the venous return which can result in swelling. Try keeping leg elevated when sitting/lying or compression stockings? I'm sorry I don't have an answer for the chestpain if the echo is normal.
Okay I will ask if they did that procedure thank you so much for your help its okay I undetstand.
How long since the operation? I had valve surgery and the pain resulting from splitting the sternum is pretty brutal...the first couple of weeks can be difficult and painful and since breathing moves the chest wall maybe that is the cause of her pain...only thing I can think of to test is an angiogram to check the grafts.
She had it 2 months ago and she says the pain has not gotten any better is a constant pain that started after the surgery.
Also depression can easily happen after major surgery and a CABG is about as big as they come
