A 62-year-old man is evaluated on postoperative day 6 following an elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy with primary anastomosis for recurrent diverticulitis. He had been recovering well, tolerating a soft diet, and passing flatus. Over the past 12 hours, he has developed severe, diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, and confusion. Vital signs show a temperature of 39.2°C (102.6°F), heart rate of 128/min, blood pressure of 82/50 mmHg, and respiratory rate of 26/min. Pulse oximetry is 94% on room air. Physical examination reveals a distended, rigidly tense abdomen with diffuse guarding and rebound tenderness. Bowel sounds are absent. A surgical drain left in the pelvis during the initial procedure now shows 100 mL of new purulent, feculent output. Two large-bore peripheral intravenous lines are established, and isotonic fluid resuscitation is initiated. Which of the following are the most appropriate next steps in the management of this patient? (Select 2)
- Prepare the patient for an urgent exploratory laparotomyCevap
- Initiate empiric broad-spectrum intravenous antibioticsCevap
- CTransport the patient for a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis
- DPlace a nasogastric tube and observe closely for spontaneous resolution
- EObtain a chest radiograph and send sputum samples for culture