Nursing Care after Liver Biopsy

[sbturner26]

My grandfather had a liver biopsy last week after a confident dx of lung cancer which spread to the liver. He tolerated the procedure well, was feeling well before the procedure, had a good day before and seemed fine immediately after. Afterward he was returned to his room, starving from fasting for the procedure he guzzled down a banana shake. The nurse came in and said "what are you doing?" He said "I'm eating a banana shake, what do you mean?" She said "you're suppose to be lying flat," He replied, "I didn't know, nobody told me!" Afterward he became nauseated, violently vomiting, sweating profusely, too weak to ambulate to the bathroom, and died shortly afterward. I wasn't there although I was desperately trying to get there to him from out of state. We were all shocked at his sudden death, although we knew death would be sooner than later due to his recent diagnoses. He has recent dx of perilous CHF, lung cancer, liver cancer and 2 aortic aneurysms. I'm thankful he did not live to experience the very end stage of liver cancer. However, considering how well he was doing prior to the biopsy, laughing comfortably, as a nurse and concerned grandchild I can't help revisiting the details and wandering why his assigned nurse was not taking appropriate precautions and what the outcome was as a result. I'm so thankful for nurses who take details seriously understanding the smallest thing missed can be catastrophic. Simple patient education, instructions, positioning.....would be grateful for any feed back or thoughts regarding this. Trying to cope with the loss and understand

[AliNajaCat]

1) We can't speculate on any sort of potential med-legal issue

2) It's not possible to know what the cause of his sudden death was -- it may have had nothing to do with his positioning

3) I hope they got a post so your family can have some idea

4) I am so sorry for your loss ...

[sbturner26]

Thank you for replying, I appreciate it truly. I realize now it would have been better had I described the scenario in the form of an NCLEX question. Best Wishes..

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I am sorry you are going through this and your loss. As mentioned this is something as per the Terms of Service of the site we can not respond to.