A client is three days postoperative unilateral adrenalectomy. Which discharge instruction should the nurse teach?

A client is three days postoperative unilateral adrenalectomy. Which discharge instruction should the nurse teach?

• A. Discuss the need for lifelong steroid replacement.
• B. Instruct the client on administration of vasopressin.
• C. Teach the client to care for the suprapubic Foley catheter.
• D. Tell the client to notify the HCP if the incision is inflamed.

Answer: (D)

The important idea here is recognizing wound infection as a key discharge warning after abdominal surgery. After a unilateral adrenalectomy, keeping the incision clean and watching for signs of inflammation is essential, because infection can spread and become serious if not treated promptly. Telling the client to notify the healthcare provider if the incision becomes inflamed helps ensure early assessment and treatment, reducing the risk of complications. Lifelong steroid replacement isn’t typically required after removing only one adrenal gland because the remaining adrenal gland often continues to produce adequate hormones; vasopressin isn’t a standard outpatient discharge topic after this surgery, and a suprapubic Foley catheter care instruction would only apply if a catheter is actually present and needed. If the incision becomes inflamed, though, timely medical evaluation is important for safety and healing.

The important idea here is recognizing wound infection as a key discharge warning after abdominal surgery. After a unilateral adrenalectomy, keeping the incision clean and watching for signs of inflammation is essential, because infection can spread and become serious if not treated promptly. Telling the client to notify the healthcare provider if the incision becomes inflamed helps ensure early assessment and treatment, reducing the risk of complications.

Lifelong steroid replacement isn’t typically required after removing only one adrenal gland because the remaining adrenal gland often continues to produce adequate hormones; vasopressin isn’t a standard outpatient discharge topic after this surgery, and a suprapubic Foley catheter care instruction would only apply if a catheter is actually present and needed. If the incision becomes inflamed, though, timely medical evaluation is important for safety and healing.