A preschool-age child underwent a tonsillectomy 4 hours ago. Which assessment finding would make nurse Jennifer suspect postoperative hemorrhage?
a. Vomiting of dark brown emesis
b. Refusal to drink clear fluids
c. Decreased heart rate
d. Frequent swallowing
Answer D.
Frequent swallowing - an attempt to clear the throat of trickling blood - suggests postoperative hemorrhage. Emesis may be brown or blood-tinged after a tonsillectomy; only bright red emesis signals hemorrhage. The child may refuse fluids because of painful swallowing, not bleeding. Hemorrhage is associated with an increased, not decreased, heart rate.
a. Vomiting of dark brown emesis
b. Refusal to drink clear fluids
c. Decreased heart rate
d. Frequent swallowing
Answer D.
Frequent swallowing - an attempt to clear the throat of trickling blood - suggests postoperative hemorrhage. Emesis may be brown or blood-tinged after a tonsillectomy; only bright red emesis signals hemorrhage. The child may refuse fluids because of painful swallowing, not bleeding. Hemorrhage is associated with an increased, not decreased, heart rate.
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