A patient with mastoiditis is admitted to the post-surgical unit after undergoing a radical mastoidectomy. The nurse should identify what priority of postoperative care?
A) Assessing for mouth droop and decreased lateral eye gaze
B) Assessing for increased middle ear pressure and perforated ear drum
C) Assessing for gradual onset of conductive hearing loss and nystagmus
D) Assessing for scar tissue and cerumen obstructing the auditory canal
Ans: A
Feedback:
The facial nerve runs through the middle ear and the mastoid; therefore, there is risk of injuring this nerve during a mastoidectomy. When injury occurs, the patient may display mouth droop and decreased lateral gaze on the operative side. Scar tissue is a long-term complication of tympanoplasty and therefore would not be evident during the immediate postoperative period. Tympanic perforation is not a common complication of this surgery.
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