Open lung biopsy: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, fainting, confusion, heavy bleeding, or sudden severe chest pain.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • 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
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Contact your surgical team promptly if you have increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or opening of the incision.

   Also call about a fever, worsening cough, increasing breathlessness, pain that is getting worse rather than better, or pain medicine side effects that you cannot manage.

   Seek urgent medical advice for new swelling or pain in one leg, coughing up more than a small streak of blood, or a sudden decline in your breathing.

   These are different from routine postoperative soreness and should not wait for a scheduled appointment.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Open lung biopsy. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.