Question

The nurse is caring for a patient following a bilateral lung transplant. When planning postoperative care of the patient, priority is placed on pulmonary hygiene.
Which statement provides the best explanation for this priority?

a. Immunosuppressant medications reduce the body's ability to fight infections.
b. During the early postoperative period, atelectasis decreases oxygenation.
c. Pulmonary hygiene reduces the risk of early primary graft dysfunction.
d. Loss of cough reflex results in decreased ability to remove secretions effectively.

Answer 1

Answer:d. Loss of cough reflex results in decreased ability to remove secretions effectively.

Explanation:

The nerves of the nervous system (autonomic) are numb during the lung transplant process. This results in the denervation of the lungs. This will result in the loss of the cough reflex. As a result the patient is not able to secrete clear secretion. The patient get exposed to high risk of infection. This can also lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome.