An Hour After a Left Upper Lobectomy, a Patient Complains

An hour after a left upper lobectomy, a patient complains of incisional pain at a level 7 out of 10 and has decreased left-sided breath sounds. The pleural drainage system has 100 ml of bloody drainage and a large air leak. Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Assist the patient to deep breathe and cough.
B) Milk the chest tube gently to remove any clots.
C) Medicate the patient with the ordered morphine.
D) Notify the surgeon about the large air leak.

Correct Answer:

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Access For Free