A nurse is caring for a young patient who is recovering from a laparoscopic appendectomy following acute appendicitis. 18 hours post-procedure the patient develops a high fever, severe abdominal pain, and nausea. The abdomen is rigid with rebound tenderness and guarding. She is hemodynamically stable. The nurse suspects which complication?

Intraabdominal abscess. Signs and symptoms of acute peritonitis (rigid abdomen, rebound, fever, severe abdominal pain) immediately following an appendectomy are almost always secondary to intra-abdominal contamination during the procedure resulting in the formation of an intra-abdominal abscess. Surgical site infections usually present less acutely and are milder. Post-surgical bleeding into the abdomen would give peritoneal signs but the patient would be less likely to spike a high fever and would likely present with hypotension. Pulmonary embolism would present as dyspnea and chest pain, rather than abdominal pain.

A nurse is caring for a young patient who is recovering from a la...

Category: Reduction of Risk Potential
Difficulty: 5

Topics: Gastrointestinal

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