The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a patient scheduled for a subtotal thyroidectomy. What should the nurse include in these instructions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reporting sensations of tingling in toes, fingers, or lips can be a sign of hypocalcemia, which can occur after a subtotal thyroidectomy due to damage or removal of the parathyroid glands. It is important to monitor for this and report any symptoms to the healthcare provider.

Answer: B
 While constipation is a possible side effect of surgery, it is not specific to a subtotal thyroidectomy and is not a priority for the preoperative teaching for this procedure.

Answer: C
 While improvement in hoarseness may occur after the surgery, this is not a priority for preoperative teaching.

Answer: D
 Taking aspirin before surgery can interfere with blood clotting and is not recommended. In fact, patients should be instructed to avoid any medication that can affect blood clotting before surgery, unless specifically instructed to do so by their healthcare provider.

The Nurse Is Providing Preoperative Teaching to a Patient Scheduled