Mom has possible leak—anecdotes welcome

[Punky44]

So my mom is about 5 weeks out from her LAR and went for a follow up CT with oncology.

The good news: her CEA is now 2.1, her CT scan showed clear lungs and liver and the onc recommended no additional chemo! (She has done 8 rounds neoadjuvantly.)

However, the CT found a large (7cm by 7cm) pocket of fluid right near the surgical site. We got referred to the surgery dept and they said it could be a hematoma or a leak. To be on the safe side, they want to place a drain.

Has anyone had either of these things? If it’s a leak, how will this affect her future reversal? Anecdotes appreciated. We are excited about the cancer related news but bummed about this.

[Gravelyguy]

Glad for the cancer news but sorry for the surgical issue. I am sure once they place the drain they will know what they are dealing with.

Dave

[CRguy]

Has anyone had either of these things? If it’s a leak, how will this affect her future reversal? Anecdotes appreciated. We are excited about the cancer related news but bummed about this.

Oh Shit now I have to relive my story again from 2007 !!!!
and I am SURE everyone is tired of that !!!!


Seriously only kidding AND very happy to weigh in and help
ALL my best wishes to Mom !

YUP ... actually had a pelvic abscess, CTs, interventional radiologists placing drains, antibiotic flushes, back in hospital
yada yada yada

I am now HERE in 2019, having also dealt with a lung met

The abscess thing was some serious pain ... SO if the docs are on it and get to things NOW
Mom will be very much happier than if it blows up into a more major issue.

IF just a hematoma / fluid / non-infected pocket = GREAT
Sometimes surgery patients have to deal with stuff and get things checked out and taken care of

Tell Mom I am here for her and you
AND .... BTDT

Harmony
CRguy

[Punky44]

I hope so Dave

CRGuy...is an abscess the same as a leak or something totally different? I also see the word fistula used and it’s so confusing.

My mom is totally asympomatic and they sort of hesitated on a monitoring approach before ultimately deciding on the drain.

So are you saying the fluid could just be random fluid that isn’t from a leak?

I’m Googling and going from “bummed” to completely freaking out about septic shock and a permanent colostomy. My mom can barely handle the temporary one.

[CRguy]

Abscess is an active infection = she should feel really fatigued / sore / BAD and have a fever etc. = ME

hematoma is a collection of blood / blood elements
fistula is kind of an opening / draining tract / "leak"
seroma is a collection of healing fluids in a pocket

SO ... I had an actual abscess = infected pocket which needed draining and antibiotics etc.etc.

hematoma / seroma ... IF they are just from the original surgery and are NOT infected ... may ? not need major attention ???
((Based on her own Docs tests ))

BUTT .. if there is an actual leak ??? leak of what ???
If GIT contents leak out into the abdomen ...JMO
that would likely end up as an abscess and she would eventually have symptoms like I had

IF it is a hematoma/seroma WITHOUT any infection .. then they can be drained without other meds needed

All depends on the actual info the docs have
Make sure they ARE keeping a close eye on Mom !!!!

Harmony
CRguy

[Pyro]

Yes, I’ve had something similar after major surgeries. After my big surgeries I had something called JP drains inserted on my body, maybe 3-4 of them, they suck but get the excess fluid build up out of your body. It doesn’t say anything bad or good about your surgery results, and once, I had to have another one inserted due to a pocket of fluid. Part of the fluid went away on its own, part of it drained out, I was told some of the pockets of fluid will just go away after a while. I could feel the pockets of fluid, and see it, it was gross but after 3 months it was all gone.

[Punky44]

Thank you CRGuy and Pyro. Praying it’s just a hematoma or seroma and nothing that indicates a true “leak.”

She has her placement in a few hours and they said they would culture whatever they get to see if it grows bacteria and then do antibiotics if necessary. Please keep her in your thoughts.

[MissMolly]

Punky:
I have had post-operative abscesses. Like CRGuy, I felt truly “crappy” - generalized malaise, fever, chills, nausea. There is little doubt that something amiss was brewing.

That your mother is asymptomatic is an encouraging sign that the fluid may be a less concerning seroma or collection of serous fluid.

Sending positive well-wishes into the wider universe for your mom,
Karen

[Punky44]

Thank you MissMolly!

Update—it was a hematoma and not a leak!!! I could just cry with happiness. They said they couldn’t drain it and so they will just observe it and it will resolve within weeks or months. We are so relieved.

[Gravelyguy]

Great news!

[Utwo]

Update—it was a hematoma and not a leak!!! I could just cry with happiness.

It's not that simple.
In my case large hematoma has liquified and got infected.
So hematoma's drain was actually draining quite a lot of stuff.

On the other hand my leak got encapsulated (I am not sure about the right term).
When they tried to insert a drain there they were not able to drain anything.

My advice, at least once a day check the temperature and do it until hematoma is completely gone.
Increase of a temperature may be an indication of an infection in hematoma.

[Punky44]

Thanks Utwo! They did get a small sample to culture to see if it was an infected hematoma so we should get those results in a few days I would think? Good advice about monitoring temp!