A patient, age 23, underwent a rhinoplasty 6 hours ago. After administering his pain medication, the nurse notes that he is swallowing frequently. What is the most likely cause of the swallowing?
Bleeding posterior to the nasal packing.
Oral dryness caused by nasal packing.
An adverse reaction to the analgesic.
A normal response to the analgesic and surgery.
The Correct Answer is B
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure performed on the nose, and it often involves the placement of nasal packing to control bleeding, support the nasal structures, and promote healing. Nasal packing can cause mouth breathing and oral dryness, which can lead to increased swallowing as the patient tries to alleviate the discomfort.
While bleeding posterior to the nasal packing is a potential complication of rhinoplasty, it typically presents with other symptoms such as active bleeding, nasal discharge, or changes in vital signs. Without additional information or signs of active bleeding, it is less likely to be the cause of the patient's frequent swallowing in this scenario.
An adverse reaction to the analgesic is possible, but it would typically present with other symptoms such as allergic reactions (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing) or gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting). In the absence of these symptoms, an adverse reaction to the analgesic is less likely.
Lastly, a normal response to the analgesic and surgery would not typically manifest as frequent swallowing. While pain medication can cause side effects, such as drowsiness or nausea, increased swallowing is not a common response.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Albuterol is a short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator that provides rapid relief of bronchospasm and helps to alleviate the symptoms of respiratory distress in asthma. It acts quickly to relax the smooth muscles in the airways, improving airflow and relieving wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. In an acute asthma exacerbation, albuterol is often the first-line medication used to provide immediate relief and improve respiratory function. Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid that has anti-inflammatory effects and is commonly used in the treatment of asthma. However, it is typically administered orally and takes time to exert its effects. In the emergency department setting, the focus is on providing immediate relief of symptoms, and oral medications like prednisone may not have an immediate effect. Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator that can be administered via inhalation. While it is effective in relieving bronchospasm, it is generally used as an adjunct to albuterol and not typically the first-line medication for severe respiratory distress in asthma. Fluticasone is an inhaled corticosteroid that has anti-inflammatory effects and is used for long-term management and control of asthma. It is not appropriate for immediate relief of severe respiratory distress and is not typically used as a first-line medication in the emergency department.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
After rhinoplasty, nasal packing is often used to control bleeding and provide support to the nasal structures. Nasal packing can cause oral dryness, as it obstructs the normal airflow through the nasal passages, leading to mouth breathing. Mouth breathing, in turn, can cause dryness of the oral mucosa and throat, resulting in the sensation of dryness and the need to swallow frequently.
While bleeding is a possible complication after rhinoplasty, the patient's symptom of frequent swallowing is more indicative of oral dryness rather than bleeding.
Although adverse reactions to analgesics can occur, frequent swallowing is not a common symptom associated with analgesic adverse reactions. Other signs such as rash, difficulty breathing, or changes in vital signs would be more typical in case of an adverse reaction. Swallowing can be a normal response to surgery, but in this scenario, the most likely cause is the oral dryness caused by the nasal packing rather than a direct response to the analgesic.
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