A nurse is assessing a patient for hemorrhage after the patient 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
• 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.