The nurse, caring for a patient recovering from a splenectomy, realizes that which of the following will occur regarding this patient's immunity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spleen plays a role in filtering blood and removing old or damaged red blood cells, as well as producing certain types of immune cells. However, other organs such as the liver and bone marrow can take over these functions after a splenectomy. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Option B is incorrect as the patient will not necessarily need to avoid infections every day of their life. Option C is incorrect as edematous lymph glands are not a common effect of a splenectomy. Option D is incorrect as the thymus gland does not perform the same functions as the spleen.

The Nurse, Caring for a Patient Recovering from a Splenectomy