A 54-year-old male patient underwent a thoracotomy. A chest tube was placed to help drain the blood and fluid in the pleural space. The nurse expects the hourly drainage to be less than:

Explanation

•Chest tube drainage greater than 100 ml/hr is considered excessive. As much as 500 to 1000 ml may be drained in the first 24 hours post chest surgery.

•If drainage is excessive, the physician should be notified as this may require additional interventions to determine the cause.

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