A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about palliative care. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

A) Cheyne-Stokes respirations:
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a cycle of gradually increasing and then decreasing respirations followed by a period of apnea. This pattern repeats in a regular cycle. It is commonly observed in clients with conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors. Cheyne-Stokes respirations can also occur during the dying process. The alternating periods of hyperventilation and apnea result from fluctuations in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

B) Kussmaul respirations:
Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid, and labored breathing patterns often observed in clients with metabolic acidosis, particularly diabetic ketoacidosis. Unlike Cheyne-Stokes respirations, Kussmaul respirations do not involve periods of apnea.

C) Apneustic respirations:
Apneustic respirations are characterized by prolonged inspiratory gasps followed by insufficient expiration. This irregular breathing pattern typically indicates damage to the pons, a part of the brainstem involved in regulating breathing. Apneustic respirations are different from the pattern described in the scenario.

D) Stridor:
Stridor is a high-pitched, noisy respiratory sound heard on inspiration that indicates upper airway obstruction, such as from swelling, foreign body aspiration, or tumors. It is not associated with the alternating pattern of hyperventilation and apnea described in Cheyne-Stokes respirations.

A. Chronic drainage of fluid through the incision site:
While chronic drainage of fluid through the incision site can be a sign of wound complications, such as infection or poor wound healing, it is not as specific an indicator of impending wound dehiscence as the patient's report of "something giving way."

B. Report by patient that something has given way:
A patient reporting that something has given way is a significant indicator of potential wound dehiscence. Wound dehiscence refers to the partial or complete separation of the layers of a surgical wound, which can occur due to various factors such as poor wound healing, infection, or increased intra-abdominal pressure. Patients may describe a sensation of "something giving way" or "popping" if the wound starts to separate.

C. Drainage that is odorous and purulent:
Odorous and purulent drainage from an incision site may indicate an infection, which can contribute to wound dehiscence. However, this finding alone may not necessarily indicate immediate wound dehiscence.

D. Protrusion of visceral organs through a wound opening:
Protrusion of visceral organs through a wound opening is a severe complication known as evisceration, which is the most advanced stage of wound dehiscence. While this finding is indicative of a significant wound complication, it typically occurs after the initial separation of wound layers. Therefore, it is not an early sign that would alert the nurse to potential wound dehiscence