Abestosis Treatment  

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, there is no effective curative treatment, but palliative and/or symptomatic treatment to improve your life: medications, supplemental oxygen (oxygen therapy) or chest tube thoracostomy to drain fluid from and around the lungs. Those treatment, however, do not prevent the disease from leading to increasing disability.  

Medications – asbestosis tends to cause pain, cough, and other problems. Your physician can use certain drugs to control the symptoms of the disease, and eventually improve your life. Most of the drugs are over the counter medications, which may include acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin...).

Oxygen therapy - if the oxygen level in your blood is too low or you have chronic respiratory failure associated with fatigue, fainting (syncope), breathlessness, your doctor may recommend you oxygen therapy. You will receive oxygen through a small tube or mask. The oxygen can also be taken by a tracheotomy tube or a respirator if your condition does not allow you to ensure satisfactory spontaneous ventilation. The amount of oxygen administered varies depending on the severity of the disease.

Chest tube thoracostomy – this technique consist of creating an opening in your chest wall through which is inserted a tube that allows air and fluid to be drained. Chest tube thoracostomy is performed under local anesthesia by an ICU doctor. Your doctor will perform an antiseptic hand rubbing along with a thorough disinfection of the skin before the cut to prevent infection and other complications. Usually, an incision about 2 cm is made to allow the passage of the drain between two ribs. The drain can be placed at various locations in the chest depending on the location of the fluids to be evacuated.