The nurse is caring for a patient post cardiac surgery. The patient manifests fever, pericardial pain, pleural pain, and dyspnea. The patient's lab studies show an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukocytosis
The nurse is aware that these signs are indicative of:
A) Acute incisional pain
B) Post pericardiotomy syndrome
C) Pneumonia
D) Pulmonary embolus
Ans: B
Feedback: Post pericardiotomy syndrome may occur in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. The syndrome is characterized by fever, pericardial pain, pleural pain, dyspnea, pericardial effusion, pericardial friction rub, and arthralgia. Leukocytosis occurs along with elevation of the ESR. Frequently, these symptoms appear after the patient is discharged from the hospital.
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