Surgery
Meperidine and benzodiazepines are avoided in older adults because they precipitate this high-risk post-op neurological complication.
what is delirium?
A fractured femur patient suddenly develops restlessness, tachypnea, hypoxia, and a petechial rash on the chest. These are hallmark signs of this emergency.
What is fat embolism syndrome?
This diagnostic test confirms osteoporosis by measuring bone density and identifying deterioration of bone matrix seen in conditions like Dowager’s hump.
What is bone densitometry?
Chemotherapy works systemically to target rapidly dividing cells, while surgery and radiation work locally. Together, they aim to achieve this overarching treatment goal.
What is cure, control, and palliation?
A cancer patient on cisplatin with known nephrotoxicity is scheduled for elective surgery. This routine pre-op lab is especially critical because delays in glomerular filtration greatly affect anesthetic clearance and drug excretion.
What is serum creatinine?
After abdominal surgery, a patient reports severe wound pain followed by a sensation of ‘something giving way.’ The nurse sees loops of bowel protruding from the incision. The immediate nursing priority is this intervention.
What is covering the wound with sterile saline-soaked dressings and calling the surgeon? (evisceration management)
A patient with a hip fracture is at risk of this complication caused by interruption of blood supply to the femoral head.
What is avascular necrosis?
Traction should never cause pain. Persistent pain while in traction may indicate this serious complication requiring immediate evaluation.
What is improper alignment or possible compartment syndrome?
This treatment modality may be used to shrink tumors before surgery or relieve obstruction in emergencies like superior vena cava syndrome.
What is radiation therapy?
While giving an IV push medication, the nurse notices blanching, coolness, and slowed infusion at the site. Continuing the push could cause necrosis because this complication is occurring.
What is infiltration?
A sudden rise in heart rate during anesthesia may be the first sign of this life-threatening condition.
What is malignant hyperthermia?
Sandbags or rolled towels placed beside an above-the-knee residual limb prevent this complication.
What is internal or external rotation?
“Overstretching a tendon results in this injury, while damage to a ligament indicates a sprain.”
What is a strain?
Smoking, poor nutrition, inactivity, obesity, and exposure to carcinogens like pesticides and asbestos are all considered this category of cancer risk factors.
What are exogenous risk factors?
This type of fracture extends into the joint surface and may lead to early-onset arthritis due to damage of articular cartilage.
What is an intra-articular fracture?
A swollen, firm calf and decreased pedal pulses after surgery require immediate intervention because they may indicate this complication.
What is a DVT?
A shortened, externally rotated, adducted leg is a classic manifestation of this injury requiring urgent surgical repair.
What is a hip fracture?
To prevent dislocation after hip replacement, the patient must avoid hip flexion beyond 90 degrees and always position the leg in this alignment.
What is abduction?
Chemotherapy vesicants must be handled using strict OSHA and ONS guidelines due to this risk if the drug leaks outside the vein.
What is extravasation causing severe tissue necrosis?
A patient receiving radiation for spinal cord compression suddenly becomes hypotensive and bradycardic in PACU after general anesthesia. This complication is more likely because radiation has already impaired this major body system before surgery.
What is autonomic nervous system regulation?
Absent bowel sounds and abdominal distention 48 hours after abdominal surgery suggest this complication.
What is paralytic ileus?
“This condition occurs when bone fragments fail to unite in the expected time frame, often requiring surgery such as bone grafting or internal fixation.”
What is delayed union or nonunion?
If a cast becomes too tight and causes increased pain, numbness, or swelling, it may require this procedure to relieve pressure.
What is bivalving the cast?
This antimetabolite requires careful timing and monitoring for renal toxicity, making hydration critically important.
What is methotrexate?
A patient receiving chemotherapy develops sudden bone pain in the pelvis. Labs show elevated alkaline phosphatase. This combination suggests possible metastasis to bone because chemo targets rapidly dividing cells while this enzyme increases when bone turnover accelerates.
What is ALP elevation from bone metastasis?