Hi, im currently studying nursing and a question I need answering is what are the potential pre & post-operative problems that may arise in a diabetic patient having a mastectomy and a 6 yr old child for a tonsillectomy.....
If you can give me some notes, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks Sharon

Obviously pain will be the first issue with both-post operatively that is.
I think your best answers will be found in your text books or a decent medsurg book. I'm not trying to be mean here but recently a student in Canada got expelled for using a forum to get answers to their assignment (turns out it wasn't as officials construed it-i.e.plagerism and he was reinstated, but now the use of forums to get answers to your questions with those will be highly suspect (and Im not saying you are doing that...) You'll find that if you discover the answers on your own rather than using a forum or other people's knowledge (while a good thing) will not only help you understand the issues better but be able to recognize what happens to your patients when you do encounter it in the real world of nursing.
Good Luck with your studies

I completely agree with Running Nurse. There is nothing wrong in seeking the views of others in general terms, but as a student you need to actually answer such answers yourself. What I would say though is that you need to think of what the normal post operative issues would be for each patient and then additionally consider what they might be for someone with diabetes and for a child. Good luck.

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Julie
http://www.lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com

As already stated forums can only give you opinions not answers (however the answers are often in there) However I feel there is no harm in asking for answers, however you need to reference all sources and a forum is not a creditable source and neither is Wikipedia (as a primary source, you should however see where the information has come from and if creditable reference that instead).

1. anxiety - it can lead to other problems. ensure they understand what is going to happen and who they can talk to afterwards if they have an issue. It is important for the mastectomy as there is a loss of body image and the image of being female. Let them know that there will be a nurse nearby when they wake up and what they might experience afterwards ie Pain.
2. Pain Pain Pain. If they are going to have a PCA teach them how to use it before they go in to surgery. Otherwise is there going to be nerve blocks or an epidural? Teach them how they work. When they come out of surgery let them know that analgesia will wear off and to not let pain build up, if they have pain, use the PCA. IMPORTANT note the number of demands when you do your obs, if you have 20 demands to 5 good, then the pain is not under control and must be reassessed.
3. Move. they have both had surgery to the top half of the body, there is no reason why they can't be getting out of bed post op. Esp when we get hip replacements out of bed day 1. A sore throat is no excuse to use bed pans and have bed baths.
4. Nutrition. We need food the heal. Ice cream is good for kids with sore throats but notify the diatician and get milk shakes made up (with additional fiber, minerals and vitamins). Even obese people can be malnourished. All patients must eat.

This is not an entire list. Refer to you Med/Surge text book for more ideas. Good luck.

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'cute Pain

We actually send our mastectomy patients home post op day 1. And tonsils are done as day surgery, so are gone within 6 hours of operation. What P/J suggested are great starters, we're getting everyone up as best we can (even if it is to sit on the side of the bed) pretty much right after surgery. the sooner they get moving the quicker they will start to feel somewhat normal. No pain no gain LOL

Wouldn't a diabetic patient have an issue with wounds healing post op? And would their blood sugar issues have an effect on the anesthesia in some way?

I'm not in school yet, but for some reason those things popped into my brain.

AS far as answering questions, Sharon, I've found that when someone tells you the answer it doesn't stick nearly as well as when you find it out for yourself.

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My blog!

I agree completely. Nothing will stick in your mind better than when you search for the answers yourself.

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Obviously in a comprehensive hospital nurses get busy.Looks like nurses getting problems more than the diabetic patients.Sounds weard


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Thushara

Addiction Recovery Louisiana

I'm a psych nurse so my answers would be:
a) diabetic mastectomy - problem 1: How soon can I take them for a cigarette?
b) 6yr old tonsillectomy - problem 1: How soon can I take them for a cigarette?

Hope this helps.

Ian, you crack me up!

MJ

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