A client who had a hysterectomy a few days ago begins to exhibit symptoms of elevated temperature 2 or 3 days following surgery, severe pain, redness or swelling around the incision, and an elevated white blood count

Question

What potential complication following surgery is most likely to be the cause of these symptoms? A) Postoperative infection
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Hypovolemic shock
D) Atelectasis

Answer 1

B
Feedback:
Inactivity and prolonged bed rest following surgery can lead to the development of pulmonary embolism in the client. Pulmonary embolism occurs owing to a blood clot lodged in the small vessels of the lungs. Postoperative infections are not caused by prolonged bed rest following surgeries; they are often characterized by elevated temperature 2 or 3 days following surgery, severe pain, redness or swelling around the incision, or an elevated white blood count. Hypovolemic shock develops as the result of severe loss of blood (hemorrhage) following the surgery and not because of prolonged bed rest following the surgery. Atelectasis generally develops from the client's reluctance to cough or breathe deeply because of the incision pain and not because of inactivity or prolonged bed rest following surgery. Atelectasis is the collapse of the air sacs in the lungs caused by obstruction of the bronchi with mucous plugs.