Subphrenic abscess - how urgent is urgent?

[Rattitude]

Quick question on behalf of a friend.

His Mum started having pains in her lung at the beginning of May. She was diagnosed with pleurisy on 6 May. A lung x-ray done that day also showed a 'mass' in her lung. She had a CT-scan on 29 May and then a consultant appointment on 4 June during which she was informed that she has a subphrenic abscess.

They will attempt to drain the abscess whilst she is undergoing an ultrasound scan. If this is not possible, she will need to be operated on.

My friend is due to go to Australia next Thursday (13 June) for 12 days or so. He really wants to be present for his Mum's next step of the treatment (draining or operation) but as they have not yet been informed of a date, this may now not happen before he heads off.

As an aside, the consultant has identified the draining as 'urgent', as she is at risk of septicaemia if the abscess bursts. I am in a country where 'urgent' means that you will be operated on within a couple of days so I am always a little baffled by its meaning in an NHS context.

This is all happening at a regional hospital, and we appreciate that it does not have the facilities/staff that would be available at bigger hospitals.

Is there anything that my friend can do to speed up the appointment for the draining so that it happens before he heads off? He and his Mum could travel to a bigger hospital if need be. They probably could go private too, although it might not make much difference now.

Alternatively, could his Mum now wait until my friend's return? He will be back on the 26th. As my friend's Mum has already been suffering from her abscess for quite a number of days, would a few more days make a difference?

Thanks for any insight you may be able to provide.

I would have thought that in this case 'urgent' would mean in the next couple of days, a subphrenic abscess is not something that would usually be left, because of the septicaemia risk.

I would suggest that your friend contacts the consultant direct (ring the hospital and ask to speak to his secretary to arrange this) to discuss things further.

Thanks, Bore. He has already chased up the secretary once. I think he is worried that he will piss them off if he chases them up again...

I suspect the delay is essentially due to the fact that it is not a large hospital and they are struggling to coordinate the various services (surgeon and ultrasound scan).

Actually, it is probably not a surgeon who will drain the abscess... There will be a couple of people from distinct departments involved though.

Yes, likely to be a coordination issue. They probably don't want to start the ultrasound procedure without surgeon/theatre being available if required.

I still think if he phoned the secretary and asked if her consultant could call him that would be the way to go. Alternatively ask the ward what time the rounds will be done tomorrow and make sure to be there at that time to speak to either the consultant in charge of her overall care or the registrar.

I hope he/you get some answers soon.

Thanks, Bore. His Mum is not in hospital; she is back at home. It looks like the way to go is to contact the secretary again.

Ah, I see. Yes, that's what I'd do in his circs. She's likely to be called at short notice then. Very difficult for him to plan anything, let alone a long-haul trip.

I know... Thanks a lot for your input!