Editing Reduction of Risk Potential (section)

=== Postoperative Complications ===

;Hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock
Tachycardia, tachypnea, cool clammy skin, restlessness and anxiety as early signs of cerebral hypoperfusion, narrowing pulse pressure, then hypotension and decreased urine output. Restlessness is a classic early sign that precedes the drop in blood pressure (Ignatavicius et al., 2021).

;Atelectasis and pneumonia
Decreased or absent breath sounds, crackles, low-grade fever, and hypoxemia. Prevented with incentive spirometry, deep breathing and coughing, splinting the incision, early ambulation, and adequate pain control so the client can take deep breaths (Ignatavicius et al., 2021; Potter et al., 2023).

;Venous thromboembolism
Unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and pain; pulmonary embolism presents as sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, anxiety, and hypoxemia. Prevented with early ambulation, sequential compression devices, and prophylactic anticoagulation. Do not massage a suspected deep vein thrombosis (Harding et al., 2023).

;Wound dehiscence and evisceration
Dehiscence is separation of wound layers; evisceration is protrusion of viscera. A sudden gush of serosanguineous drainage often precedes dehiscence, and the client may report that something "gave way." Nursing action for evisceration: stay with the client, position supine with knees slightly flexed to reduce abdominal tension, cover the protruding tissue with '''sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline''', do not attempt to reinsert the tissue, keep the client nothing by mouth, monitor for shock, and notify the surgeon immediately (Ignatavicius et al., 2021).

;Paralytic ileus
Absent bowel sounds, distension, nausea and vomiting, and no flatus. Managed with nothing by mouth, nasogastric decompression, ambulation, and electrolyte correction (Harding et al., 2023).

;Urinary retention
Common after anesthesia and with anticholinergic and opioid therapy. Assess with a bladder scanner before catheterizing (Potter et al., 2023).