A nurse is reinforcing postoperative teaching with a client who has a prescription for enoxaparin to prevent deep vein thrombosis. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching as a potential adverse effect of this medication?

• Pneumonia: The preschooler is showing signs of shallow breathing, refusal to use the incentive spirometer, and slightly diminished breath sounds in the bilateral lower lobes, all of which increase the risk of developing pneumonia. Postoperative patients, especially young children, are vulnerable to pneumonia due to pain-limited deep breathing and poor pulmonary expansion.
• Wound infection: Although there is some serosanguinous drainage at the incision site, the dressing remains dry overall, and there is no mention of redness, warmth, or purulent discharge typically associated with wound infection. Therefore, wound infection is not the primary concern at this point.
• Ileus: Hypoactive bowel sounds are present, but they have been stable throughout the day without worsening abdominal distension or absence of bowel function. While ileus is a postoperative risk, the more pressing concern given the respiratory findings is pneumonia.
• Shallow breathing: The child consistently shows shallow, unlabored respirations throughout assessments, which indicate limited lung expansion. Without effective use of the incentive spirometer and adequate deep breathing, shallow breathing places the child at high risk for pulmonary complications such as pneumonia.
• Increasing temperature: Although the child's temperature rose slightly by 1600, it remains below 38° C (100.4° F), which is not typically classified as a fever. The minor temperature elevation could be related to inflammation rather than an infectious process at this stage.
• Hypoactive bowel sounds: Hypoactive bowel sounds are expected in the early postoperative period, particularly following abdominal surgery due to the effects of anesthesia and manipulation of the bowel during surgery. While they should be monitored, they are not the primary finding indicating the most urgent complication in this situation.

A. "You will receive moderate sedation prior to the procedure.": Moderate sedation is not typically required for a thoracentesis. Instead, local anesthesia is used at the puncture site to minimize discomfort. The client remains awake, able to follow instructions, and does not require the same level of monitoring associated with moderate sedation.

B. "You will need to lie on your affected side for 30 minutes following the procedure.": After a thoracentesis, clients are usually positioned on the unaffected side to allow the lung on the affected side to re-expand and to minimize the risk of complications such as pneumothorax. Lying on the affected side could worsen the client's condition post-procedure.

C. "You will not be able to eat or drink four hours prior to the procedure.": Thoracentesis is not a gastrointestinal or airway procedure that necessitates fasting beforehand. Clients are typically allowed to eat and drink normally unless another procedure requiring fasting is planned, as the risk of aspiration is minimal with thoracentesis.

D. "You will be placed leaning over a bedside table during the procedure.": Clients undergoing thoracentesis are positioned sitting upright, leaning slightly forward over a bedside table with pillows for support. This position helps spread the ribs apart and provides the best access to the pleural space while minimizing the risk of lung injury.