Lung abscess treatment in Turkey is important due to the possibility of affecting the patient’s respiratory capacity, the risk of causing permanent damage to lung tissue, and additional symptoms such as pain, fever, and others.
A lung abscess is a cavitation and collection of pus in the pulmonary tissue. The most common location for a pulmonary abscess is in the right lung due to the vertical position of the right main bronchus branching from the trachea, specifically in the apical segment of the lower lobe and the posterior segment of the upper lobe, due to the accessibility of secretions in dorsal recumbency.
The main cause of lung abscess formation is anaerobic bacteria (85% of cases), and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria also have a role in its occurrence, while immunocompromised people show opportunistic infections such as Candida (Candida albicans) and Legionella, and in this article we will learn about lung abscess treatment for various causes.
Non-surgical lung abscess treatment
An initial assessment of the patient’s condition must be made before making the appropriate lung abscess treatment decision. This includes assessing the medical history, performing a thorough physical examination, obtaining a recent chest radiograph, conducting a bacteriologic and histologic study of the bronchus, and performing bronchoscopy.
Before the existence of antibiotics, surgical lung abscess treatment played a major role in the treatment of abscesses, but currently, in developed countries – primarily Turkey – lung abscess treatment has become mainly conservative with the presence of bacterial culture techniques, sensitivity tests and the availability of antibiotics.
Lung abscess treatment with medication
In up to 85% of cases, antibiotics are the cornerstone of lung abscess treatment:
- Penicillin daily for several months is the treatment of choice
- Clindamycin (if allergic to penicillin)
- Metronidazole is best paired with penicillin to cover anaerobic bacteria
- The triple combination (penicillin-metronidazole-aminoglycoside-calgintamycin) has been proven and documented to cover most resistant germs
Respiratory physical therapy
In this type of lung abscess treatment, the physiotherapist performs light strokes on the patient’s chest and back for at least a quarter of an hour every day for several times. Before this, bronchodilator medications or nebulization and vaporization sessions may be given to moisten secretions, and sometimes expectorant medications are given. After that, the patient is placed in the appropriate position for at least one hour, while continuing light strokes on the back to help them expel the pus.
Read more about physical therapy in Turkey.
Lung abscess treatment with bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is typically used to examine the airways using a small camera at the end of a flexible tube that displays video on a screen so doctors can see and take pictures of the airways. This tube is inserted through the nose or mouth until it reaches the bronchi.
The tube is equipped with a suction device and a pump to aspirate pus and secretions and flush and clean the airways. However, not all lung abscesses can be treated via bronchoscopy, and some abscesses can only be treated in certain areas of the lung.
Lung abscess treatment with surgery
All abscesses in the body are mainly treated by bursting or draining (opening the abscess and draining the pus inside), except for the lung abscess, because it will open over time on the bronchi on its own, but if the lung abscess does not burst and size increases, then we resort to bursting the abscess or removing it.
Percutaneous abscess bursting
It is the best way to treat an abscess on the lung when antibiotics fail, in which a skin incision is made over the site of the abscess and then a tube (detonator) is inserted into the abscess cavity, this procedure is characterized by its ease, low complications, and high accuracy because it is done with the help of ecography or CT scan.
This method is only resorted to in the following cases:
- Tense abscesses (not open to the bronchi and unable to open)
- Signs of increased size and content of the abscess
- Showing signs of contralateral lung injury
- Large peripheral cysts (greater than 4 centimeters)
- Patient on artificial ventilation; i.e., unable to expectorate and expectorate sputum
- No regression of sepsis after 3 weeks of treatment with the correct antiserum
Lung abscess removal surgery
Here, the pulmonary lobe containing the abscess is removed by open or thoracoscopic surgery, but of course, this procedure is only necessary in special cases, including the following:
- Chronic abscesses more than 8 weeks old, and the presence of a purulent cavity with a thick wall and a diameter greater than 2 centimeters
- Pleural rupture and pleural effusion with pneumothorax
- The onset of abscess complications, such as pleurisy and bronchopulmonary fistula
- Malignant tumors such as lung cancer (which has left behind an abscess) or even suspected
- Bronchial obstruction(tracheal disorders)
- Massive hemoptysis, meaning the patient coughs up blood in large quantities (more than 600 ml per day)
In the latter case, antibiotics cannot be used for fear of suffocation, as the large bronchi cannot hold more than 150 ml of blood, and therefore, the possibility of bronchial closure is possible.
Read more about VATS Lobectomy in Turkey.
Lung abscess treatment in diabetics
When a diabetic patient has a lung abscess, treatment requires special attention due to the impact of diabetes on immunity and the healing process. Here are some points to consider:
- Control sugar levels with insulin or oral glucose medications
- Use antibiotics in limited doses as directed by your doctor
- Optimize your diet to boost immunity and speed up recovery
Studies on lung abscess treatment
Studies have shown that purulent lung abscesses can be treated with antibiotics in about 80-90% of cases. Treatment by percutaneous drainage is associated with a cure rate of 75-100% without mortality. In contrast, the success rate of lung abscess surgery is approximately 90%, with a low mortality rate.
Lung abscesses are more dangerous and mortality is higher in the following cases:
- Recalcitrant abscesses
- Multiple and large cysts
- Lung abscess with bronchial obstruction
- Immunocompromised patients
- Infection with deadly aerobic germs such as Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative
In general, the mortality rate is almost non-existent when there is a skilled doctor who can handle such cases efficiently.
Lung abscess prevention
Due to the seriousness of lung abscess and because prevention is better than cure, here are some lung abscess treatment tips and instructions that may help you avoid a potentially fatal disease. These guidelines include the following:
- Avoid smoking and maintain oral and dental hygiene to prevent lung infections that can lead to lung abscesses.
- Avoid exposure to infectious diseases such as influenza by following personal hygiene measures and avoiding being in crowded places with sick people.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to dust and chemicals that can cause lung infections and eventually a lung abscess.
- Strengthen your immune system by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
In conclusion, lung abscess treatment in Turkey stands out as a model of medical progress and advanced healthcare, as success in lung abscess treatment depends on rapid and accurate diagnosis and effective medical intervention. Healthcare centers in Turkey are equipped with the latest technology and specialized medical staff, which contributes to positive patient outcomes. In addition, patients have the opportunity to receive lung abscess treatment in a comfortable and advanced environment with comprehensive care that includes physical and psychological aspects of care at low prices compared to Europe and America.
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