To avoid re-expansion pulmonary edema, do not remove more than how much pleural fluid?

To avoid re-expansion pulmonary edema, do not remove more than how much pleural fluid?

• A. 0.5 L
• B. 1.5 L
• C. 2.5 L
• D. 3.0 L

Answer: (B)

Re-expansion pulmonary edema happens when the lung rapidly re-expands after removing a large amount of pleural fluid, causing capillary leak and fluid buildup in the lungs. To reduce this risk, limit how much fluid is removed in one session. The commonly taught maximum is about 1.5 liters of pleural fluid drained in a single procedure. Draining more than that markedly increases the chance of edema. So, the best answer is 1.5 liters. Draining only 0.5 liter would be safer but not the standard limit, while draining 2.5 or 3.0 liters would be too much and raise the risk substantially.

Re-expansion pulmonary edema happens when the lung rapidly re-expands after removing a large amount of pleural fluid, causing capillary leak and fluid buildup in the lungs. To reduce this risk, limit how much fluid is removed in one session. The commonly taught maximum is about 1.5 liters of pleural fluid drained in a single procedure. Draining more than that markedly increases the chance of edema. So, the best answer is 1.5 liters. Draining only 0.5 liter would be safer but not the standard limit, while draining 2.5 or 3.0 liters would be too much and raise the risk substantially.