Question

An infant who has undergone surgery for bilateral clubfoot returns from the operating room with bilateral casts. after noting that the infant's toes are slightly cool and edematous, the nurse should first: cut the casts. notify the surgeon. place warm packs on the child's feet. elevate the legs on pillows.

Answer 1

The correct answer is that the nurse should elevate the legs on pillows. Since the infants toes are edematous, elevating the legs using pillows above heart level will be useful since the gravitational pull will promote the edema fluid to being reabsorbed from the interstitium and to the lymphatic vessels, thereby reducing the edema of the foot. After this, the nurse should inform the attending physician.