Postoperative
Patient Profile
C.H. is a very active 64-year-old white woman. She volunteers several days a week at the local senior center. She has recently developed increasing abdominal pain, accompanied by a 25-pound weight loss. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan showed a large mass in the fundal area of the stomach. A subtotal gastrectomy was performed. She is now day 1 into her postoperative recovery.
Subjective Data
Objective Data
Physical Examination
Diagnostic Studies
Discussion Questions
1. What are some possible postoperative complications that C.H. could experience?
2. From the data given, which postoperative complication is C.H. likely experiencing?
3. What assessment data led the nurse to make this decision?
4. What are the priority nursing interventions that the nurse should implement to address this postoperative complication?
5. What diagnostic test might be indicated and why?
6. Identify three outcomes that would indicate that C.H.’s condition is improved as a result of the interventions.