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Warning-sign checks

Esophagectomy - minimally invasive: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, coughing or vomiting blood, sudden severe chest pain, or signs of a major allergic reaction.

    Do not drive yourself in an emergency.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent medical advice for fever, increasing wound redness or drainage, repeated vomiting, worsening chest or abdominal pain, new shortness of breath, or inability to keep fluids down.

The article also says

Contact your team if swallowing becomes gradually harder, eating causes ongoing coughing, you continue losing weight, or diarrhoea, reflux, or poor appetite does not improve.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Esophagectomy - minimally invasive. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.