Post-Surgical Patient Care Flashcards
7 cards from real CBC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Post-Surgical Patient Care flashcards as text
A patient 8 months after gastric bypass reports fatigue, and lab work shows microcytic anemia. Which nutrient deficiency is the most likely cause?
Answer: Iron
Iron deficiency is common after bypass because the duodenum, the primary site of iron absorption, is bypassed, producing microcytic anemia.
Which symptom pattern distinguishes late dumping syndrome from early dumping syndrome?
Answer: Hypoglycemia symptoms such as shakiness and confusion occurring 1-3 hours after eating
Late dumping occurs 1-3 hours after eating due to reactive hypoglycemia from an exaggerated insulin response.
A counselor is educating a post-surgical patient about alcohol. Which statement is most accurate for patients after gastric bypass?
Answer: Alcohol is absorbed faster and produces higher blood levels, increasing intoxication and addiction risk
Altered anatomy accelerates alcohol absorption and raises peak blood alcohol levels, increasing risks of intoxication and alcohol use disorder.
Which finding in a sleeve gastrectomy patient 6 weeks post-op most warrants referral back to the surgical team for possible stricture?
Answer: Progressive inability to tolerate liquids with frequent regurgitation
Worsening intolerance of even liquids with regurgitation suggests a stricture or stenosis that requires surgical evaluation.
Why is thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency a medical emergency in a bariatric patient with persistent vomiting?
Answer: It can rapidly cause Wernicke encephalopathy with permanent neurological damage
Thiamine stores deplete within weeks, and prolonged vomiting can precipitate Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute neurological emergency.
A patient 4 months post-op has stopped attending support groups and reports eating in response to stress. The counselor's most appropriate first step is to:
Answer: Explore the emotional triggers and re-engage the patient with behavioral support
Addressing emotional eating triggers and reconnecting the patient with support structures is the first-line counseling response.
How soon after bariatric surgery are patients typically encouraged to begin walking?
Answer: Within the first 24 hours, as tolerated
Early ambulation, usually the day of or day after surgery, reduces the risk of blood clots and speeds recovery.