Question

A child undergoes a tonsillectomy for treatment of chronic tonsillitis unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. After surgery, the child is brought to the recovery room. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the child's plan of care?

1. Institute measures to minimize crying.

2. Perform postural drainage every 2 hours.

3. Cough and deep-breathe every hour.

4. Give ice cream as tolerated.

Answer 1

Post-tonsillectomy care in the recovery room should include measures to minimize crying to protect the surgical site, and the administration of ice cream as tolerated to provide comfort and nutrition. Actions such as postural drainage and coughing and deep breathing every hour are not typically recommended due to the risk of disturbing the surgical area.

Step-by-step explanation:

A child undergoing a tonsillectomy for treatment of chronic tonsillitis will have a post-operative care plan that is focused on promoting healing and preventing complications. In the recovery room, actions that should be included in the plan of care often involve managing pain and preventing activities that may stress the throat or disrupt the surgical site. Among the suggested actions:

• Institute measures to minimize crying as it can cause stress and strain on the throat, potentially disrupting the surgical site.
• Performing postural drainage or cough and deep-breathe every hour are typically not indicated, as they can be uncomfortable and potentially harmful post-tonsillectomy. These actions could disturb the surgical area and lead to bleeding or other complications.
• Offering ice cream as tolerated can be soothing for the throat and is often recommended to help with pain relief and caloric intake when regular foods are difficult to consume due to soreness.

Overall, the nurse should provide comfort, monitor for signs of bleeding or infection, and encourage gentle, soothing foods and drinks.