Posted: December 9th, 2017

You have just finished assisting the physician with a thoracentesis for a patient with recurrent left pleural effusion caused by lung cancer. The thoracentesis removed 1800 mL of fluid. Which patient assessment information is important to report to the physician?

You have just finished assisting the physician with a thoracentesis for a patient with recurrent left pleural effusion caused by lung cancer. The thoracentesis removed 1800 mL of fluid. Which patient assessment information is important to report to the physician?

A. The patient starts crying and says she can’t go on with treatment much longer
B. The patient complains of sharp, stabbing chest pain with every deep breath
C. The patient’s blood pressure is 100/48 mm Hg and her heart rate is 102 beats/ min
D. The patient’s dressing at the thoracentesis site has 1 cm of bloody drainage

?

A. The patient starts crying and says she can’t go on with treatment much longer
B. The patient complains of sharp, stabbing chest pain with every deep breath
C. The patient’s blood pressure is 100/48 mm Hg and her heart rate is 102 beats/ min
D. The patient’s dressing at the thoracentesis site has 1 cm of bloody drainage