The nurse is caring for a client on the third day following abdominal surgery and assesses the absence of bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and the client passing no flatus. These findings indicate the client is experiencing which of the following postoperative complications?
Fecal impaction
Incisional infection
Health care-associated Clostridium difficile
Paralytic ileus
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Fecal impaction typically presents with the inability to pass stool and may not be associated with the absence of bowel sounds.
Choice B reason: Incisional infection is usually indicated by localized redness, warmth, and possible discharge, not necessarily by the absence of bowel sounds or flatus.
Choice C reason: Health care-associated Clostridium difficile often presents with diarrhea, not the absence of bowel sounds or flatus.
Choice D reason: Paralytic ileus is characterized by impaired intestinal motility and transit, absence of the passage of flatus, diminished bowel sounds, abdominal distension, and intestinal dilatation, fitting the symptoms described.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Cool, dry skin is not typically associated with a panic attack, which often involves symptoms like sweating due to the fight-or-flight response.
Choice B reason: Chest pain is a common symptom of panic attacks, often leading individuals to believe they are having a heart attack.

Choice C reason: Pallor, or paleness, may occur during a panic attack, but it is not as common as other symptoms like chest pain.
Choice D reason: Bradycardia, or slow heart rate, is not characteristic of a panic attack; tachycardia, or fast heart rate, is more common.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Bursting open of the wound is a description that could imply evisceration, but it is not as specific as choice D.
Choice B reason: Wound edges not approximating is a general description of a wound that is not healing properly, but does not specifically describe evisceration.
Choice C reason: Opening of the wound could refer to any situation where a wound has opened, not necessarily evisceration.
Choice D reason: Evisceration specifically refers to the viscera spilling out of the abdomen, usually through a surgical wound.
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