A client arrives to the medical-surgical unit 4 hours after a transurethral resection of the prostate. A triple lumen catheter for continuous bladder irrigation with normal saline is infusing, and the nurse observes dark, pink-tinged outflow with blood clots in the tubing and collection bag. Which action should the nurse take?
Discontinue infusing solution.
Irrigate the catheter manually.
Monitor catheter drainage.
Decrease the flow rate.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Discontinuing the infusion may lead to increased clotting and potential obstruction of the catheter. Continuous bladder irrigation is essential to keep the bladder clear of clots and debris following surgery.
B. Manually irrigating the catheter can help clear any clots that may be obstructing the catheter, ensuring adequate drainage and preventing complications such as bladder distention or retention. This is the most immediate and appropriate action to take in response to the presence of clots.
C. Monitoring catheter drainage is important; however, it does not address the potential issue of clots obstructing the flow of urine, which is the priority concern in this scenario.
D. Decreasing the flow rate may not be beneficial and could lead to inadequate irrigation of the bladder, which could exacerbate clot formation and urinary retention.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Internal bleeding typically presents with signs of hypovolemia, such as decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate, rather than pitting edema and jugular venous distention.
B. Right-sided heart failure is characterized by fluid overload, leading to symptoms like pitting edema in the extremities and jugular venous distention, which align with the findings observed in this client.
C. Left ventricular dysfunction primarily results in pulmonary congestion and respiratory distress rather than peripheral edema and jugular venous distention.
D. Cardiac tamponade may present with jugular venous distention, but it usually also involves hypotension and muffled heart sounds, which are not described in this scenario.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Hemoglobin levels can indicate anemia but are not directly related to the presence of petechiae and ecchymosis, which suggest bleeding issues.
B. The red blood cell count is also important for understanding anemia but does not specifically address the bleeding disorders indicated by the client’s symptoms.
C. The white blood cell count provides information on the immune status but does not relate to bleeding manifestations.
D. The platelet count is critical to assess because petechiae and ecchymosis can be indicative of thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), which can lead to increased bleeding tendencies. Monitoring platelet levels will help determine the cause of these symptoms.