A client asks the nurse to explain risk factors for uterine cancer. The nurse explains that the number one risk factor is:

A. While pain can occur post-operatively and may be a sign of complications, it is not a direct indicator of bleeding. Pain can result from normal healing, surgical trauma, or other complications, but by itself, it does not specifically point to bleeding at the surgical site.
B. An increased blood pressure might not necessarily indicate bleeding. In some cases, blood pressure may increase due to pain, anxiety, or other factors. However, a significant drop in blood pressure would be more indicative of bleeding, especially in conjunction with other symptoms.
C. A decreased white blood cell count (leukopenia) is not typically associated with bleeding at the surgical site. In fact, following surgery, one might expect the white blood cell count to be normal or slightly elevated due to the body’s response to surgery.
D. This finding is indicative of bleeding at the surgical site. Blood on the pillow would suggest that there is active bleeding that has escaped from the surgical site, which is a significant concern that requires immediate assessment and intervention.

A. A carotid endarterectomy does not involve bypassing the plaques; rather, it directly addresses the blockage.
B. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves making an incision in the neck to access the carotid artery, where the surgeon removes the atherosclerotic plaques that are causing narrowing and restricting blood flow. This helps reduce the risk of stroke.
C. Carotid endarterectomy is not brain surgery; it is performed on the carotid arteries in the neck. The procedure aims to prevent strokes by improving blood flow to the brain, but it does not involve surgery on the brain itself.
D. This description does not accurately reflect carotid endarterectomy. The procedure does not involve resecting an artery in the brain or using a graft; rather, it focuses on removing plaques from the carotid artery in the neck.