Question

The critical care nurse is monitoring the patients urine output and drains following renal surgery. What should the nurse promptly report to the physician?

A) Increased pain on movement
B) Absence of drain output
C) Increased urine output
D) Blood-tinged serosanguineous drain output

Answer 1

The critical care nurse should promptly report the absence of drain output following renal surgery, as it may indicate a blockage or serious complication requiring immediate attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The critical care nurse should promptly report several key postoperative observations to the physician. An absence of drain output may indicate a blockage or other serious complication post-surgery. In the context of renal surgery, this could signify a problem such as an obstructed urinary catheter, obstruction due to swelling, blood clots, or kinking of the drain itself, all of which require immediate attention to prevent damage to the newly operated kidney and surrounding tissues. While an increase in pain, increased urine output, and blood-tinged serosanguineous drain output might be expected to some degree, these should still be monitored closely. However, the absence of drain output is an acute concern that could indicate a risk of renal failure or other significant postoperative complications.

In this scenario, the nurs’s primary concern should be ensuring the patient's renal function is protected. Hence, any signs that contradict the normal expected recovery process should be discussed with the physician as soon as they are observed. Complications like obstructed urinary flow can escalate quickly and may lead to a cascade of events manifested as acute renal failure, which is characterized by a decrease in urine production and an increase in serum creatinine. Enumerating the correct answer, B) Absence of drain output is crucial to provide.