What would be an acceptable amount of drainage before tube removal?

Surgeons all have their own protocols but in my practice I usually remove the drains once the output is less than 40cc/24 hours.  I am concerned about infection with prolonged drain insertion and would rather remove the drains earlier, even if there is a higher chance of a fluid collection (seroma) that requires drainage.  This is usually a straightforward office procedure.

Each surgeon is different but a general guideline is to remove the drain when it is putting out less than 30cc in 24 hours.