A 3-year-old child is admitted with a Stage II Wilm's tumor. Which preoperative intervention(s) should the nurse implement? Choose all that apply.

A. Squeeze the nipple base to introduce milk into the mouth: This may increase the risk of aspiration if milk flows too rapidly, especially in infants with cleft lips who have difficulty forming a tight seal and managing suck-swallow coordination effectively.

B. Position the baby in the left lateral position after feeding: Although side-lying may aid digestion in some cases, it’s not the priority after feeding a newborn with cleft lip. Upright positioning is safer and helps reduce aspiration risk.

C. Alternate milk with water during the feeding: Offering water during feedings is not recommended for newborns, as it can displace nutritional intake and may disrupt electrolyte balance. It also offers no benefit for cleft lip management.

D. Hold the newborn in an upright position: This reduces the risk of aspiration by improving control of milk flow and promoting effective swallowing. It is the safest and most effective position for feeding an infant with cleft lip.

Rationale for Correct Choices:

• Nephrotic Syndrome: The child’s symptoms, including edema, fatigue, increased weight despite decreased appetite, and proteinuria, point towards nephrotic syndrome. This condition involves the loss of protein (mainly albumin) in the urine, leading to edema. The laboratory result of 2+ protein in the urine and low albumin level of 2.8 g/dL are consistent with nephrotic syndrome.
• Provide a low-salt diet: A low-salt diet is a key intervention in nephrotic syndrome to help manage fluid retention and edema. Sodium causes water retention, which worsens edema, and limiting salt intake can help reduce swelling and manage the symptoms effectively.
• Administer albumin: Administering albumin is important in nephrotic syndrome because it helps replenish the albumin levels in the blood. Restoring the albumin levels can help reduce edema by improving osmotic pressure and preventing fluid from accumulating in the tissues.
• Daily weight: Daily weight monitoring is essential to assess for changes in fluid retention. In nephrotic syndrome, fluid retention can fluctuate, and regular monitoring helps assess the effectiveness of the treatment plan and helps guide further interventions.
• Abdominal girth: Monitoring abdominal girth is necessary to track the extent of fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Abdominal edema is common in nephrotic syndrome, and significant increases in girth could indicate worsening fluid retention.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices:

• Type 1 diabetes: This presents with increased thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss due to elevated blood glucose levels. However, this child is experiencing weight gain despite decreased appetite and has symptoms of edema, which are not typical of diabetes.
• Wilms' tumor: Wilms' tumor presents with an abdominal mass, hematuria, or pain, which is not mentioned in this case. While renal issues could cause edema, the lab results of proteinuria and low albumin suggest nephrotic syndrome rather than a malignancy like Wilms' tumor.
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome: Hemolytic uremic syndrome is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. The child does not show signs of anemia, low platelets, or kidney failure (such as elevated creatinine), which are key features of HUS.

• Place the child on strict bed rest While it’s important to monitor the child closely, strict bed rest could lead to muscle weakness and decreased mobility. The focus should be on managing edema and ensuring proper fluid balance, not restricting movement.
• Prepare the child for emergency surgery: Emergency surgery is not indicated for nephrotic syndrome, which is a non-surgical condition that can be managed with medications (like albumin) and lifestyle adjustments (such as a low-salt diet).
• Prepare an insulin drip: An insulin drip would be appropriate for managing hyperglycemia, typically seen in diabetic emergencies. However, this child does not show any signs of diabetes or hyperglycemia. The focus is on managing nephrotic syndrome.

• Lymph node size: Lymph node size is monitored in cases of infection or malignancy. In nephrotic syndrome, the primary concern is fluid retention and protein loss, not lymph node enlargement.
• Bladder volume: Bladder volume monitoring is typically relevant in cases of urinary retention or other urinary tract disorders. This child’s primary concern is proteinuria and edema, which are linked to kidney function and fluid balance, rather than bladder volume.
• Ketones: Monitoring ketones is generally relevant in cases of uncontrolled diabetes or prolonged fasting. However, this child is not presenting with symptoms of hyperglycemia or ketosis. Nephrotic syndrome does not typically involve ketones.