Post-Operative Complications Practice Exam (150
Questions)
1. A patient who had abdominal surgery is experiencing sudden,
severe abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen on assessment. What
is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess vital signs
C. Notify the surgeon immediately
D. Encourage deep breathing exercises
C. Notify the surgeon immediately
Rationale: Sudden severe abdominal pain and rigidity may indicate a
surgical emergency such as peritonitis or internal bleeding. Immediate
notification of the surgeon is critical.
2. A patient is 2 days post-op from a hip replacement and complains
of calf pain and swelling. What complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Wound infection
D. Hematoma
B. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Calf pain, swelling, and redness after surgery are classic
signs of DVT. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent
pulmonary embolism.
3. Which of the following is a common respiratory complication after
general anesthesia?
, A. Pneumonia
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Asthma exacerbation
B. Atelectasis
Rationale: Atelectasis, or collapse of alveoli, commonly occurs after
general anesthesia due to hypoventilation, shallow breathing, and
immobility.
4. A patient who had abdominal surgery is exhibiting a sudden drop
in blood pressure, tachycardia, and pale, clammy skin. What is the
most likely cause?
A. Infection
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pain reaction
B. Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: Postoperative hypovolemic shock can occur due to internal
or external bleeding. Symptoms include hypotension, tachycardia,
pallor, and diaphoresis.
5. The nurse notes that a post-op patient has a fever of 101°F on the
first postoperative day. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
A. Early surgical site infection
B. Normal postoperative response
C. Septicemia
D. Urinary tract infection
B. Normal postoperative response
Rationale: A mild fever (≤101°F) within the first 48 hours post-surgery
,is usually due to the inflammatory response to surgical trauma, not
infection.
6. A patient develops redness, warmth, and purulent drainage from
the surgical incision on post-op day 4. What is the priority
intervention?
A. Apply warm compresses
B. Culture the drainage and notify the surgeon
C. Continue routine dressing changes
D. Start oral antibiotics immediately
B. Culture the drainage and notify the surgeon
Rationale: Signs of infection such as redness, warmth, and purulent
drainage require culturing to identify the pathogen and timely
notification of the surgeon for targeted treatment.
7. Which post-operative complication is characterized by rapid
shallow breathing, crackles in the lungs, and pink frothy sputum?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
Rationale: Pulmonary edema may develop postoperatively due to
fluid overload, cardiac dysfunction, or fluid shifts, presenting with
crackles, dyspnea, and pink frothy sputum.
8. A post-op patient reports sudden shortness of breath, chest pain,
and anxiety. Vital signs show tachycardia and hypoxia. Which
complication is most likely?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pulmonary embolism
, C. Atelectasis
D. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, and hypoxia in a
post-op patient suggest a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening
complication requiring immediate intervention.
9. A patient 3 days post-op has absent bowel sounds, abdominal
distension, and nausea. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Gastroenteritis
C. Small bowel obstruction
D. Wound infection
A. Paralytic ileus
Rationale: Paralytic ileus, common after abdominal surgery, presents
with absent bowel sounds, distension, and nausea due to temporary
cessation of intestinal peristalsis.
10. After surgery, a patient develops confusion, agitation, and
hallucinations. The nurse suspects:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Postoperative delirium
C. Stroke
D. Infection
B. Postoperative delirium
Rationale: Postoperative delirium is common in elderly patients or
those with predisposing factors, often presenting as acute confusion,
agitation, and hallucinations.
Questions)
1. A patient who had abdominal surgery is experiencing sudden,
severe abdominal pain and a rigid abdomen on assessment. What
is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess vital signs
C. Notify the surgeon immediately
D. Encourage deep breathing exercises
C. Notify the surgeon immediately
Rationale: Sudden severe abdominal pain and rigidity may indicate a
surgical emergency such as peritonitis or internal bleeding. Immediate
notification of the surgeon is critical.
2. A patient is 2 days post-op from a hip replacement and complains
of calf pain and swelling. What complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Wound infection
D. Hematoma
B. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Calf pain, swelling, and redness after surgery are classic
signs of DVT. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent
pulmonary embolism.
3. Which of the following is a common respiratory complication after
general anesthesia?
, A. Pneumonia
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Asthma exacerbation
B. Atelectasis
Rationale: Atelectasis, or collapse of alveoli, commonly occurs after
general anesthesia due to hypoventilation, shallow breathing, and
immobility.
4. A patient who had abdominal surgery is exhibiting a sudden drop
in blood pressure, tachycardia, and pale, clammy skin. What is the
most likely cause?
A. Infection
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pain reaction
B. Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: Postoperative hypovolemic shock can occur due to internal
or external bleeding. Symptoms include hypotension, tachycardia,
pallor, and diaphoresis.
5. The nurse notes that a post-op patient has a fever of 101°F on the
first postoperative day. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
A. Early surgical site infection
B. Normal postoperative response
C. Septicemia
D. Urinary tract infection
B. Normal postoperative response
Rationale: A mild fever (≤101°F) within the first 48 hours post-surgery
,is usually due to the inflammatory response to surgical trauma, not
infection.
6. A patient develops redness, warmth, and purulent drainage from
the surgical incision on post-op day 4. What is the priority
intervention?
A. Apply warm compresses
B. Culture the drainage and notify the surgeon
C. Continue routine dressing changes
D. Start oral antibiotics immediately
B. Culture the drainage and notify the surgeon
Rationale: Signs of infection such as redness, warmth, and purulent
drainage require culturing to identify the pathogen and timely
notification of the surgeon for targeted treatment.
7. Which post-operative complication is characterized by rapid
shallow breathing, crackles in the lungs, and pink frothy sputum?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
Rationale: Pulmonary edema may develop postoperatively due to
fluid overload, cardiac dysfunction, or fluid shifts, presenting with
crackles, dyspnea, and pink frothy sputum.
8. A post-op patient reports sudden shortness of breath, chest pain,
and anxiety. Vital signs show tachycardia and hypoxia. Which
complication is most likely?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pulmonary embolism
, C. Atelectasis
D. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, and hypoxia in a
post-op patient suggest a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening
complication requiring immediate intervention.
9. A patient 3 days post-op has absent bowel sounds, abdominal
distension, and nausea. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Paralytic ileus
B. Gastroenteritis
C. Small bowel obstruction
D. Wound infection
A. Paralytic ileus
Rationale: Paralytic ileus, common after abdominal surgery, presents
with absent bowel sounds, distension, and nausea due to temporary
cessation of intestinal peristalsis.
10. After surgery, a patient develops confusion, agitation, and
hallucinations. The nurse suspects:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Postoperative delirium
C. Stroke
D. Infection
B. Postoperative delirium
Rationale: Postoperative delirium is common in elderly patients or
those with predisposing factors, often presenting as acute confusion,
agitation, and hallucinations.
