Question

A client who had a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy should be watched carefully for hemorrhage, which may be shown by which of the following signs?

A. Bloody drainage from the ears
B. Frequent swallowing
C. Guaiac-positive stools
D. Hematuria

Answer 1

After a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, frequent swallowing may indicate a hemorrhage, as it suggests the patient is trying to clear accumulating blood at the back of the throat.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client who had a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy should be watched carefully for hemorrhage. One of the signs indicating hemorrhage may be frequent swallowing. This is because post-surgical bleeding from the operative site can lead to the accumulation of blood in the back of the throat, causing the patient to swallow frequently to clear it. While bloody drainage from the ears, guaiac-positive stools, and hematuria can be signs of bleeding or hemorrhage in different contexts, they are not the typical signs of a hemorrhage post-transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.