A client who had abdominal surgery reports feeling "a pop”. in his incisional area followed by severe pain when he turned in bed earlier in his shift; he now reports feeling "wet”. in his abdominal area under his gown and dressing. The nurse should:

Call for assistance and stay with client.

Remove dressing to assess wound.

Cover wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline.

Assess vital signs.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason:

The nurse should call for assistance and stay with the client because the client is likely experiencing wound evisceration, which is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Wound evisceration is the protrusion of bowel through an abdominal incision, and it can occur 4 to 5 days postoperatively following an increase in strain on the incision, such as from turning, coughing, sneezing, or vomiting. Clients often report feeling something has "popped”. or opened in the wound, followed by severe pain and a sensation of wetness. The nurse should not leave the client alone or attempt to reinsert the bowel.

Choice B reason:

The nurse should not remove the dressing to assess the wound because this could increase the risk of infection and further injury to the wound. The nurse should cover the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to protect the wound from contamination and drying. Removing the dressing could also cause more pain and bleeding to the client.

Choice C reason:

The nurse should not cover the wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline because this could cause maceration of the skin and increase the risk of infection. The nurse should use a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to prevent adherence to the wound and allow for drainage. Sterile towels could also be too bulky and heavy for the wound.

Choice D reason:

The nurse should not assess vital signs as the first action because this would delay the urgent care needed for the client. The nurse should call for assistance and stay with the client while covering the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline. Assessing vital signs can be done after securing help and stabilizing the wound. Vital signs may show signs of shock, such as hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pallor. A) Call for assistance and stay with client. B) Remove dressing to assess wound. C) Cover wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline. D) Assess vital signs.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Hypothermia, bradycardia, and hypotension are not signs of malignant hyperthermia, but rather signs of hypovolemia, shock, or anesthesia overdose. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening condition that occurs when a patient is exposed to certain anesthetic agents and develops a hypermetabolic response that leads to high fever, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, hypertension, acidosis, and rhabdomyolysis.

Choice B reason:

Hyperthermia, tachycardia, and hypertension are the classic signs of malignant hyperthermia. The patient may also experience increased carbon dioxide production, decreased oxygen saturation, dysrhythmias, cyanosis, muscle breakdown, and organ failure. The nurse should monitor the patient's vital signs, temperature, blood gases, electrolytes, and urine output closely and notify the anesthesia care provider immediately if malignant hyperthermia is suspected. The treatment involves stopping the anesthetic agent, administering 100% oxygen, cooling the patient with ice packs and cold intravenous fluids, and giving dantrolene sodium intravenously to relax the muscles.

Choice C reason:

Hypothermia, tachypnea, and hypertension are not consistent with malignant hyperthermia. Hypothermia may occur due to exposure to cold operating room environment or intravenous fluids. Tachypnea may be caused by pain, anxiety, hypoxia, or acidosis. Hypertension may be related to stress, pain, or sympathetic stimulation. These signs are not specific to malignant hyperthermia and do not indicate a hypermetabolic state.

Choice D reason:

Hyperthermia, bradypnea, and hypotension are not typical of malignant hyperthermia. Hyperthermia may occur due to infection, inflammation, or dehydration. Bradypnea may be a result of oversedation, opioid administration, or respiratory depression. Hypotension may be due to blood loss, dehydration, or vasodilation. These signs do not reflect a hypermetabolic state or muscle rigidity that are characteristic of malignant hyperthermia.

A. A wound infection. B. A wound dehiscence. C. A wound evisceration. D. A wound hematoma.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:

A wound infection is the most likely diagnosis for a client who has redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage at the incision site 24 hours after an appendectomy. These are signs of inflammation and infection that indicate the wound is not healing properly. A wound infection can delay wound healing, increase pain, and cause fever and systemic symptoms. A wound infection requires treatment with antibiotics and wound care.

Choice B reason:

A wound dehiscence is a partial or complete separation of the edges of a surgical incision. It usually occurs later than 24 hours after surgery, when the wound is still fragile and weak. A wound dehiscence can be caused by stress on the wound, such as coughing, vomiting, or straining, or by poor wound closure, infection, or malnutrition. A wound dehiscence may present with increased drainage, a visible gap in the incision, or a popping sensation. A wound dehiscence requires immediate medical attention and may need surgical repair.

Choice C reason:

A wound evisceration is a rare but serious complication of a wound dehiscence, where the abdominal organs protrude through the open incision. It is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent organ damage, infection, and shock. A wound evisceration may present with sudden pain, a gush of blood or serous fluid, and visible organs through the wound. The client should lie down with knees bent and cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with warm saline until help arrives.

Choice D reason:

A wound hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin or in the deeper tissues that results from bleeding at the surgical site. It usually occurs within the first few hours after surgery and may cause swelling, pain, bruising, and pressure on nearby structures. A wound hematoma can increase the risk of infection and impair wound healing. A small hematoma may resolve on its own, while a large hematoma may need drainage or surgery.

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A client who had abdominal surgery reports feeling "a pop”. in his incisional area followed by severe pain when he turned in bed earlier in his shift; he now reports feeling "wet”. in his abdominal area under his gown and dressing. The nurse should:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is assisting with the induction of general anesthesia for a client who is undergoing a cholecystectomy. The nurse monitors the client for signs of malignant hyperthermia, which include:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who had an appendectomy 24 hours ago. The nurse observes redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage at the incision site. The nurse suspects that the client has developed:

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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