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Postoperative Patient Management Flashcards

7 cards from real CSFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which postoperative complication is MOST associated with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, and a positive Homans' sign in a patient who had a 6-hour pelvic surgery?

    Answer: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

    Prolonged pelvic surgery causes venous stasis, and DVT presents with unilateral limb swelling, warmth, erythema, and calf pain with dorsiflexion (Homans' sign).

  2. A patient 6 hours after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy complains of right shoulder pain. The surgical first assistant should recognize this as:

    Answer: Referred pain from residual CO2 irritating the diaphragm

    Residual carbon dioxide gas after laparoscopy irritates the diaphragm, which refers pain to the right shoulder via the phrenic nerve (C3-C5).

  3. When performing a postoperative surgical wound assessment, which finding requires IMMEDIATE notification of the surgeon?

    Answer: Wound edges separating with visible bowel loops (evisceration)

    Evisceration (protrusion of abdominal organs through the wound) is a surgical emergency requiring immediate coverage with a sterile moist dressing and surgeon notification.

  4. A postoperative patient on a beta-blocker develops a heart rate of 48 bpm, blood pressure of 88/54 mmHg, and is symptomatic with dizziness. The MOST appropriate pharmacologic intervention is:

    Answer: Atropine IV for symptomatic bradycardia

    Atropine is the first-line treatment for symptomatic bradycardia by blocking vagal tone to increase heart rate.

  5. Following a thyroidectomy, a patient develops perioral numbness, tingling of the fingertips, and a positive Chvostek's sign. These findings are MOST consistent with:

    Answer: Hypocalcemia due to parathyroid gland injury

    Inadvertent parathyroid removal or devascularization during thyroidectomy causes hypocalcemia, which presents with perioral numbness, tetany, and a positive Chvostek's sign.

  6. A patient with a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recovering from a tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. Which postoperative precaution is MOST important?

    Answer: Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring and positioning in semi-Fowler's or lateral position

    OSA patients are at high risk for respiratory obstruction postoperatively; continuous monitoring and non-supine positioning reduce airway collapse and hypoxia risk.

  7. Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate for evaluating pain in an intubated, sedated postoperative ICU patient who cannot self-report?

    Answer: Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) or Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)

    The BPS and CPOT are validated behavioral observational tools designed specifically for assessing pain in non-verbal, sedated critically ill patients.