Nurse Donald is caring for a client following a modified radical mastectomy. Which assessment finding would indicate that the client is experiencing a complication related to this surgery?
A. Pain at the incisional site
B. Complaints of decreased sensation near the operative site
C. Arm edema on the operative side
D. Sanguineous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt drain
Correct Answer: C. Arm edema on the operative side
Option C: Arm edema on the operative side (lymphedema) is a complication following mastectomy and can occur immediately postoperatively or may occur months or even years after surgery. The surgery damages some of the nodes and vessels that lymph moves through resulting in a backup of fluid into the body’s tissue.
Options A and B: Pain and decreased sensation in the chest area is normal and it is caused by the damaged nerves in the armpit and chest during the surgery.
Option D: A sanguineous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt drain is normal postoperatively. This output from the drain decreases each day and the color will turn into light yellow or light pink.
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