Cholecystectomy Dehiscence

[NewlyGradBSN]

24 hours after the operation, the patient needed to turn to sides. When we were turning, she felt painful and she felt that something open up, I checked the post op site, there was no fluid, drainage or blood. Immediately when her doctor made rounds, I asked if we needed to check the site ergo, slightly open the dressing to look at the site. He said that it was unlikely that it would open. He checked the dressing on top of the site, there was also no blood or fluid. He also assessed the abdomen of the patient and he said that there were bowel sounds. Is it possible for wound dehiscence to occur? If my memory serves me correct, if the patient felt that something might have open up, it's possible that it's dehiscence. I am currently in my 5th month in the floor and I have still so much more to learn.

[thawk28]

I currently work at a hospital, i am not a nurse....yet, im a pct on the surgical floor and have seen people dehis. Doctors typically don't allow any of us to mess with the primary dressings that they place, mainly because they want to assess for drainage or blood themselves, but On the occasion that a patient says they feel something opening, if its not visual, most docs will more than likely say that they are okay and that everything is in tact (dressing, staples, etc. The staff would more than likely keep an eye on the H&H and watch the levels. We get patients that come from having abdominal surgeries, especially if its their first abdom surgery, and describe the pain as your pt did. As a nurse you are not wrong for taking the patients word and assessing, some dont even do that, you will just have to keep your team informed on the patient condition and have them all keep an eye on her with you, especially if patient will be ambulatory. Good Luck

[NewlyGradBSN]

yes I informed them to keep a close eye on the patient because of the pain she experienced.