Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPreoperative and Postoperative Care

While recovering on the surgical unit, a 68-year-old male is evaluated for new-onset respiratory distress and increased sputum production. The patient is currently on postoperative day 2 following an open partial colectomy for adenocarcinoma. His past medical history includes severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), osteoarthritis, and hypertension. He continues to smoke one pack of cigarettes daily.

Vital signs show a temperature of 38.7°C (101.6°F), pulse of 112/min, blood pressure of 138/82 mm Hg, and respirations of 26/min. Pulse oximetry reading is 88% on ambient air. Physical examination reveals a barrel-shaped chest with diffuse, bilateral expiratory wheezing and a prolonged expiratory phase. Jugular venous pressure is normal, and heart sounds are regular without any S3 gallop. The abdominal incision is clean, dry, and intact with no surrounding erythema. Both calves are soft, compressible, and nontender. A portable chest radiograph displays hyperinflated lung fields along with a newly developed dense consolidation in the left lower lobe.

Which of the following are the most appropriate next steps in the management of this patient? (Select 3)

  1. Administration of intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycinAnswer
  2. Delivery of aerosolized short-acting bronchodilatorsAnswer
  3. Administration of systemic glucocorticoidsAnswer
  4. D
    Intravenous push of a loop diuretic
  5. E
    Bilateral lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound
  6. F
    Removal of staples and packing of the surgical incision

Answer

The most appropriate next steps are the administration of intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin, delivery of aerosolized short-acting bronchodilators, and administration of systemic glucocorticoids.
The patient's clinical presentation on postoperative day 2 is defined by a combination of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The timeline and symptoms (fever, purulent sputum, focal consolidation) are classic for a pulmonary source ('Wind'). The concurrent diffuse wheezing, barrel chest, and prolonged expiration in a heavy smoker indicate that the infection has triggered a COPD exacerbation. Consequently, comprehensive management requires a multi-step approach: treating the underlying infection with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics (e.g., piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin) and aggressively managing the bronchospasm and inflammation with aerosolized short-acting bronchodilators and systemic glucocorticoids.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the timing and clinical signs of the postoperative fever.
Fever, tachypnea, productive cough, and a focal lung consolidation on postoperative day 2 point heavily toward a pulmonary etiology ('Wind'), specifically hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Postoperative complications follow a predictable temporal pattern. Pulmonary complications like atelectasis and pneumonia are the most common causes of fever on postoperative days 1-2.
2
Identify any concurrent secondary complications.
The presence of diffuse expiratory wheezing, a prolonged expiratory phase, and severe hypoxia in a heavy smoker with known COPD indicates an acute COPD exacerbation.
Respiratory infections are the leading trigger for acute exacerbations of COPD.
3
Determine the necessary multi-modal treatment plan.
The patient requires simultaneous management of both the infection and the airway hyperreactivity.
Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics treat the hospital-acquired pneumonia, while bronchodilators and systemic glucocorticoids address the severe bronchospasm and inflammation of the COPD exacerbation.

Key Concept

Postoperative fever on days 1-2 ('Wind') is frequently due to pulmonary complications. When pneumonia triggers an acute COPD exacerbation, comprehensive management requires treating the infection with broad-spectrum antibiotics while simultaneously managing the airway obstruction with bronchodilators and systemic glucocorticoids.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Preoperative and Postoperative Care

More questions from this topic