Question

The nurse is caring for a 4 year old girl who has returned from the recovery room after a tonsillectomy 3 hours ago. She has cried off and on over the past 2 hours and is now sleeping.

What areas should the nurse assess and focus on for this child?

Answer 1

ANS)

-- Tonsillectomy is a surgical removal of palatine tonsils from the back of the throat.This is mainly done to avoid some throat infections and uncooperative sleep apnea.

-- In the area of ENT the Tonsillectomy is a common operation.One of the major problem is the pain after this surgery, so it is very important to have a nursing care after the surgery.

-- The measures that the nurses should take to care the children's after tonsillectomy are:

** Try to lower the children's worries psychological preparation of children's and their parents.

** For reducing the neck and jaw pain cold compress should be used.

** Provide cold foods and drinks after the surgery time.

** Provide a calm and good environment for the children and avoid much talking and also provide the child a correct amount of sleep.

** It is very important for the patient to get hydration after the surgery.So the patient should drink more and more water than the normal level in order to avoid the dehydration.And this helps the patients to reduce the bleeding and fever.And also for children's the amount of fluid need will be different according to their weight.

The nurses also should check for the :

-- Dark Red blood vomiting

-- Increased pulse and lower blood pressure.

-- signs of the bleeding in the back of the throat.

-- swallowing excessively.

-- Restlessness not due to the pain.

** Don't give the medicines containing aspirin, and anti inflammatory medicines because sometimes it increases the pain.

** The ice collar is good for the patients to reduce the pain.Take a zip loc bad and put some ice cubes in it and wrapping it in a towel and gently keep it in the front of the Neck.

THANKS!!!