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A wound dehiscence is a partial or complete separation of the edges of a surgical incision. It usually occurs later than 24 hours after surgery, when the wound is still fragile and weak. A wound dehiscence can be caused by stress on the wound, such as coughing, vomiting, or straining, or by poor wound closure, infection, or malnutrition. A wound dehiscence may present with increased drainage, a visible gap in the incision, or a popping sensation. A wound dehiscence requires immediate medical attention and may need surgical repair.

A wound evisceration is a rare but serious complication of a wound dehiscence, where the abdominal organs protrude through the open incision. It is a surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent organ damage, infection, and shock. A wound evisceration may present with sudden pain, a gush of blood or serous fluid, and visible organs through the wound. The client should lie down with knees bent and cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with warm saline until help arrives.

A wound hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin or in the deeper tissues that results from bleeding at the surgical site. It usually occurs within the first few hours after surgery and may cause swelling, pain, bruising, and pressure on nearby structures. A wound hematoma can increase the risk of infection and impair wound healing. A small hematoma may resolve on its own, while a large hematoma may need drainage or surgery.

Hypothermia, bradycardia, and hypotension are not signs of malignant hyperthermia, but rather signs of hypovolemia, shock, or anesthesia overdose. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening condition that occurs when a patient is exposed to certain anesthetic agents and develops a hypermetabolic response that leads to high fever, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, hypertension, acidosis, and rhabdomyolysis.

Hypothermia, tachypnea, and hypertension are not consistent with malignant hyperthermia. Hypothermia may occur due to exposure to cold operating room environment or intravenous fluids. Tachypnea may be caused by pain, anxiety, hypoxia, or acidosis. Hypertension may be related to stress, pain, or sympathetic stimulation. These signs are not specific to malignant hyperthermia and do not indicate a hypermetabolic state.

Hyperthermia, bradypnea, and hypotension are not typical of malignant hyperthermia. Hyperthermia may occur due to infection, inflammation, or dehydration. Bradypnea may be a result of oversedation, opioid administration, or respiratory depression. Hypotension may be due to blood loss, dehydration, or vasodilation. These signs do not reflect a hypermetabolic state or muscle rigidity that are characteristic of malignant hyperthermia.

Wearing tight-fitting clothing or jewelry on the affected arm is not recommended, but it is not something to avoid completely. Tight-fitting clothing or jewelry can cause swelling (lymphedema) or infection in the arm, but wearing them for short periods of time may be acceptable. The client should be advised to wear loose-fitting clothing and jewelry most of the time and to monitor the arm for any signs of swelling, pain, or redness.

Elevating the affected arm above the level of the heart is not something to avoid, but rather something to do frequently. Elevating the arm can help reduce swelling and improve blood flow. The client should be instructed to elevate the arm several times a day for 15 to 30 minutes at a time.

Applying moisturizer or sunscreen to the affected arm is not something to avoid, but rather something to do regularly. Moisturizer can help prevent dryness and cracking of the skin, which can increase the risk of infection. Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sun damage, which can also increase the risk of infection and skin cancer. The client should be advised to apply moisturizer daily and sunscreen whenever exposed to the sun.

Performing range-of-motion exercises on the affected arm is not something to avoid, but rather something to do gradually and carefully. Range-of-motion exercises can help restore mobility and flexibility to the arm and prevent stiffness and contractures. The client should be instructed to start doing gentle exercises as soon as possible after surgery and to increase the intensity and duration as tolerated. The client may be referred to a physical therapist for additional guidance and support.

General anesthesia will numb your lower body and allow you to remain awake during the surgery. This is false because general anesthesia does not numb only a part of the body, but rather affects the whole body and brain. Numbing only a part of the body is called regional anesthesia, which involves injecting an anesthetic near a cluster of nerves to block pain signals from that area. Regional anesthesia can be used for some types of hysterectomies, but not for abdominal hysterectomy.

General anesthesia will block pain signals from reaching your brain and make you sleepy during the surgery. This is partially true but incomplete. General anesthesia does block pain signals from reaching your brain, but it also makes you unconscious, not just sleepy. You will not be aware of anything that is happening during the surgery or remember anything afterwards. General anesthesia also affects other functions of your body, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

General anesthesia will relax your muscles and reduce your awareness of what is happening during the surgery. This is also partially true but incomplete. General anesthesia does relax your muscles and reduce your awareness, but it also makes you completely unconscious and unable to feel any pain. You will not have any memory of the surgery or be able to respond to any stimuli. General anesthesia also has other effects on your body, such as lowering your body temperature and slowing down your digestion.

Removing dentures, glasses, contact lenses, jewelry and nail polish is part of the physical preparation of the client before surgery. These items can interfere with the anesthesia, cause injury, or be lost during the procedure.

Administering a sedative or anxiolytic medication as prescribed is part of the preoperative medication of the client before surgery. These medications can help reduce anxiety, pain, nausea, and vomiting, and facilitate induction of anesthesia.

Marking the surgical site with an indelible marker is part of the patient identification and verification process before surgery. This helps prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, or wrong-person surgery by ensuring that the correct site is marked and confirmed by the client, surgeon, and nurse.

The client reports numbness in his right leg. This is not a cause for immediate intervention by the nurse, because numbness is an expected effect of spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia blocks the nerve impulses from the lower extremities, lower abdomen, pelvic, and perineal regions, resulting in loss of sensation and movement.

The client has a blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg. This is not a cause for immediate intervention by the nurse, because mild hypotension is a common side effect of spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia causes vasodilation and decreases the sympathetic tone, leading to reduced blood pressure. The nurse should monitor the client's vital signs and fluid status, and administer vasopressors if needed.

The client has difficulty voiding after surgery. This is not a cause for immediate intervention by the nurse, because urinary retention is a common problem after spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia affects the bladder function by inhibiting the micturition reflex and impairing the sensation of bladder fullness. The nurse should monitor the client's urine output, bladder distension, and fluid intake, and assist with catheterization if needed.

Flexing both knees at a 90-degree angle is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause excessive pressure on the knees and ankles, leading to nerve injury or skin breakdown. It can also impair venous return and increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Only the dependent leg should be flexed at the hip and knee, while the upper leg should be straight and supported by pillows between the legs.

Aligning the shoulders directly over each other is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause compression of the dependent shoulder and compromise the blood supply to the arm. It can also cause shoulder drop and brachial plexus injury. The lower shoulder should be pulled slightly forward and supported by a pad under the chest wall.

Elevating the dependent arm on an arm board is not a proper technique for lateral positioning because it can cause excessive abduction of the arm and stretch the brachial plexus. It can also interfere with surgical access to the thorax or kidney. Both arms should be supported on parallel arm boards with abduction less than 90 degrees.

This is incorrect. Notifying anesthesia personnel is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. Anesthesia personnel are not responsible for counting or searching for sponges, and they cannot intervene in the surgical procedure without the surgeon's consent. The surgeon is the one who needs to be informed first, as they have the authority and ability to search the wound and decide whether to continue or stop the surgery.

This is incorrect. Notifying risk management is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. Risk management is a department that deals with identifying, assessing, and minimizing potential hazards in health care settings. While it is important to report any adverse events or errors to risk management, this should be done after ensuring the patient's safety and resolving the issue. The priority is to notify the surgeon and search for the missing sponge.

This is incorrect. Notifying operating room supervisor is not the priority action when an incorrect sponge count is reported. The operating room supervisor is a person who oversees the daily operations of the surgical suite, such as staffing, scheduling, equipment, and supplies. While they may be involved in addressing any problems or conflicts that arise in the OR, they are not directly responsible for counting or searching for sponges, and they cannot interfere with the surgical procedure without the surgeon's consent. The priority is to notify the surgeon and search for the missing sponge.

Placing instruments in closed containers at completion of surgery is not a specific precaution for clients who have a positive HIV test result. It is a standard practice for all surgical procedures to prevent contamination and infection. Placing instruments in closed containers does not protect the health care workers from exposure to blood or body fluids during surgery.

Wearing shoe covers in addition to personal protective equipment is not a specific precaution for clients who have a positive HIV test result. It is a standard practice for all surgical procedures to prevent contamination and infection. Wearing shoe covers does not protect the health care workers from exposure to blood or body fluids during surgery.

Using instruments only from specially marked trays is not a specific precaution for clients who have a positive HIV test result. It is a standard practice for all surgical procedures to prevent contamination and infection. Using instruments only from specially marked trays does not protect the health care workers from exposure to blood or body fluids during surgery.

The nurse should not remove the dressing to assess the wound because this could increase the risk of infection and further injury to the wound. The nurse should cover the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to protect the wound from contamination and drying. Removing the dressing could also cause more pain and bleeding to the client.

The nurse should not cover the wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline because this could cause maceration of the skin and increase the risk of infection. The nurse should use a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline to prevent adherence to the wound and allow for drainage. Sterile towels could also be too bulky and heavy for the wound.

The nurse should not assess vital signs as the first action because this would delay the urgent care needed for the client. The nurse should call for assistance and stay with the client while covering the wound with a nonadherent dressing moistened with warm sterile normal saline. Assessing vital signs can be done after securing help and stabilizing the wound. Vital signs may show signs of shock, such as hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pallor. A) Call for assistance and stay with client. B) Remove dressing to assess wound. C) Cover wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile saline. D) Assess vital signs.

Pulmonary edema is not a likely complication of ORIF of a fractured hip. Pulmonary edema is a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Pulmonary edema can be caused by heart failure, kidney failure, lung infections, or high altitude. It is not directly related to bone fractures or surgery.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a possible complication of ORIF of a fractured hip. DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. DVT can cause pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in the affected area. DVT can also break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening emergency. DVT is more likely to occur after surgery or prolonged immobility.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is not a likely complication of ORIF of a fractured hip. MI is a heart attack that occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is interrupted, causing damage or death of the heart tissue. MI can be caused by coronary artery disease, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply the heart. MI can also be triggered by stress, physical exertion, or other factors. MI is not directly related to bone fractures or surgery.

Covering the wound with sterile gauze moistened with normal saline is a correct nursing intervention for wound evisceration, but it is not the priority action. The priority is to get immediate help and inform the surgeon of the situation.

Placing the patient in low Fowler's position with knees bent is another correct nursing intervention for wound evisceration, as it reduces tension on the abdominal muscles and prevents further protrusion of the bowel. However, it is not the priority action either.

Applying pressure to the wound edges is an incorrect nursing intervention for wound evisceration, as it can cause further damage to the bowel and increase the risk of infection. The nurse should avoid touching or manipulating the wound or the bowel.

Massaging the calves and thighs gently is not recommended for a patient who had spinal surgery and is at risk for DVT. Massaging the affected area can dislodge a clot and cause a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening complication of DVT.

Elevating the foot of the bed by 15 degrees is not an effective nursing intervention in preventing DVT in a patient who had spinal surgery and is at risk for DVT. Elevating the foot of the bed can increase venous stasis and impair circulation, which can increase the risk of clot formation.

Encouraging early ambulation and leg exercises is an effective nursing intervention in preventing DVT in a patient who had spinal surgery and is at risk for DVT, but not as effective as applying SCDs. Early ambulation and leg exercises can improve blood flow and prevent venous stasis, but they may not be feasible or safe for some patients who had spinal surgery, depending on their level of injury and mobility.