Final answer:
After surgery on the right side of the body, including the right arm, medical professionals typically draw blood from the left arm to avoid complications with the healing limb.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a surgery on the right side of the body, it is recommended to draw blood from the left arm. This avoids any potential complications with the right arm which has been operated on or affected by medical procedures.
The right lymphatic duct drains lymph fluid from the upper right side of the body, including the right arm, into the right subclavian vein. As the patient has undergone surgery to the lower right extremity and exhibits paralysis of the right side limbs, including the right arm, it is clinically safer to use the left arm for blood draws. Drawing blood from the surgical side or the side with impaired lymphatic drainage can increase the risk of infection and delay healing. Moreover, it could be painful for the patient and potentially impede the recovery of the affected limb. The left arm in this case is mobile, with adequate control and power, making it the logical and safer choice for venipuncture. In general practice, medical professionals avoid drawing blood from limbs on the side of recent surgeries or where there are vascular or lymphatic concerns, to prevent additional stress on the healing tissues and to avoid complications such as lymphedema.