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How do you decide the maximum amount of volume to remove during a therapeutic thoracentesis?

Do you use the traditional strict limit of 1.5 L, or do you consider removing more volume if a patient appears to tolerate it?
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How do you decide the maximum amount of volume to remove during a therapeutic thoracentesis?

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1 Answer
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Hospital Medicine · Baylor University Medical Center
Answered on

Critically ill (hypotension/shock on pressors) that are not having hypoxia issues/increased FiO2 requirements, I would probably be cautious.

Rest of the population, use clinical judgement based on the clinical response... Less likely to need a "hard" stop/limit.

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