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Difficulty: EasyBasic Care and Comfort

A practical nurse is caring for a client who has just returned to the unit after undergoing a percutaneous liver biopsy. Which of the following positions is most appropriate for the nurse to place the client in?

  1. Right side-lyingAnswer
  2. B
    Left side-lying
  3. C
    Prone
  4. D
    High Fowler's

Answer

Right side-lying
Following a percutaneous liver biopsy, the client must be placed in a right side-lying position for several hours. Because the liver is a highly vascular organ located on the right side of the body, positioning the client on this side uses their own body weight to apply direct pressure to the puncture site, which effectively promotes hemostasis and prevents severe internal hemorrhage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the procedure performed and its anatomical location.
The client had a percutaneous liver biopsy. The liver is a highly vascular organ located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Understanding the anatomical site of the procedure helps determine where pressure must be applied to prevent complications.
2
Determine the most significant immediate post-procedure risk.
The greatest immediate risk following a liver biopsy is internal bleeding (hemorrhage).
Prioritizing the primary post-operative complication guides the selection of the correct nursing intervention.
3
Select the position that minimizes this specific risk.
Placing the client in a right side-lying position applies the client's own body weight to create direct physical pressure on the biopsy site.
Direct pressure promotes hemostasis and reduces the risk of bleeding from the vascular tissue.

Key Concept

Post-procedure positioning to prevent hemorrhage following a liver biopsy
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Topics

Basic Care and Comfort

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