Question

The nurse is caring for a client post-op femoral popliteal bypass graft. Which post-operative assessment finding would require immediate physician notification?

Edema of the extremity and pain at the incision site
A temperature of 99.6°F and redness of the incision
Serous drainage noted at the surgical area
A loss of posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses

Answer 1

Immediate physician notification is required for a post-op femoral popliteal bypass graft patient if there is a loss of posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses, as this could indicate a possible graft occlusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The post-operative assessment finding that would require immediate physician notification for a client post-op femoral popliteal bypass graft is a loss of posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses. This could indicate graft occlusion, which is an emergency as it threatens the viability of the extremity. Immediate reevaluation and intervention are necessary to preserve the function of the graft and limb. While edema, pain, temperature, and serous drainage may be causes for concern and require monitoring, they do not typically indicate an emergency situation as the complete loss of pulses does.

Key Points for Immediate Physician Notification Post-Op

• Loss of pulses indicates potential graft failure.
• Edema and pain are expected to some extent but should still be monitored.
• Temperature elevation might be an early sign of infection.