A 37-yr-old patient has just arrived in the postanesthesia recovery unit (PACU)after a thyroidectomy. Which information about the patient is most important to communicate to the surgeon?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The neck swelling may lead to respiratory difficulty,and rapid intervention is needed to prevent airway obstruction. The incisional pain should be treated but is not unusual after surgery. A heart rate of 112 beats/min is not unusual in a patient who has been hyperthyroid and has just arrived in the PACU from surgery. Sleepiness in the immediate postoperative period is expected.

A 37-Yr-Old Patient Has Just Arrived in the Postanesthesia Recovery