A nurse is assessing a patient for hemorrhage after he underwent a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. Which of the following signs may be present?

Explanation

• A hypophysectomy is the surgical removal of the pituitary gland due to a tumor. It is commonly removed transsphenoidally, or through the nose

• The nasal passages are generally packed after this surgery, and blood draining from the sinuses into the mouth and throat can cause the patient to frequently swallow

• Incorrect: Tachycardia, not bradycardia, would be a late sign of hemorrhage

• Incorrect: Bloody stools indicate GI bleeding 

• Incorrect: Petechiae results from broken capillaries, which are usually harmless and will disappear within a few days 

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