Final answer:
Signs that should be reported immediately to the surgeon after an aortofemoral bypass for peripheral arterial disease include symptoms of acute limb ischemia, signs of infection, and changes in mental status or respiratory difficulty, as they may point to severe complications requiring prompt intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to a patient who has undergone an aortofemoral bypass for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). After such a procedure, certain postoperative findings should prompt immediate reporting to the surgeon. These include symptoms of acute limb ischemia such as a sudden decrease in limb temperature, weakening or absence of pulses below the bypass, increased pain, pallor or bluish discoloration of the limb, and paralysis or numbness. Also, signs of a possible infection such as redness, swelling, drainage from the incision site, or fever should be reported. Changes in mental status or respiratory difficulty could also signify serious complications.
Immediate communication with the surgeon is critical as these signs and symptoms may indicate problems like graft occlusion, infection, or embolization, which could be limb or life-threatening if not addressed promptly. All of these findings warrant urgent evaluation and possible intervention to restore circulation, treat infection, or manage other complications that may have arisen from the surgery.