Answer

Hello; Thank you for responding to the questions. At this point, your father's condition is a bit baffling. Generally, when a nonmalignant, exudative pleural effusion is found, there is usually an associated inflammatory condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, infection, pulmonary embolism, or pancreatitis. However, sometimes, as in your father's case, a clear cause is not identifiable. Now, as for his gagging after meals and how it relates, there is no clear relationship. However, gagging can lead to aspiration. Aspiration generally manifests as pneumonia; however, it does cause inflammation of the lungs. Although this may not directly be related, if he does aspirate, this is likely not helping this issue. First of all, I would recommend talking with your father's provider about a possible swallow evaluation referral. This is a relatively simple procedure, and it can help determine if there are any swallow issues, such as aspiration. In addition, if not already done, I would recommend talking to your father's provider about a pulmonologist referral. A pulmonologist may want to check baseline lung functioning and possibly more testing. At this point, you may never have a clear understanding of why this is happening; however, a little further evaluation may get you closer. I know this doesn't provide a clear answer for why this is happening; however, I do hope this helps. If you have additional questions or concerns, please let me know. Lisa