The patient has had knee replacement surgery and has a local infusion pump to provide a local anesthetic to the surgical site.The patient puts on the call light and complains that the pain at the site is more intense than it has ever been and is getting worse.The nurse checks the site and finds that the dressing is damp but intact.The infusion pump is pumping,and there is medication in the bag.The most probable cause of the problem might be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assess the surgical dressing and the site of catheter insertion.Dressing should be dry and intact.Determine if catheter properly placed.
If catheter is clogged,infusion of medication will stop.Pain levels will increase,but dressing will be dry,and pump should alarm.If the pump is releasing too much medication,the nurse should expect to see symptoms of local anesthetic adverse reaction.It is not the patient's responsibility to convince the nurse that he has pain; it is the nurse's responsibility to believe the patient.

The Patient Has Had Knee Replacement Surgery and Has a Local