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A nurse is caring for a 6-years old child who had a tonsillectomy 2 hours ago. Which sign or symptom most likely relates to a complication?

A) Increased appetite
B) Frequent swallowing
C) Clear breath sounds
D) Bright red emesis

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

The symptom most indicative of a complication after a tonsillectomy in a 6-year-old child is Bright red emesis, as it suggests post-operative bleeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for a 6-year-old child who had a tonsillectomy 2 hours ago should be alert for signs of complications. The symptom most likely related to a complication in this scenario is Bright red emesis. This suggests that the child may be experiencing post-operative bleeding, a known complication after a tonsillectomy. Frequent swallowing can indicate that the child is swallowing blood that is trickling down the back of the throat, which is a more subtle sign of bleeding. Clear breath sounds are a normal finding and increased appetite would be unexpected so soon after surgery and is not suggestive of a complication.

User Chris Dodd
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