Postoperative electrolyte disturbances may present with which signs, and what is the initial management approach?

• A. Wound Check.
• B. Fever and Cough.
• C. Hypertension with Tachycardia.
• D. Abnormal Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, or Bicarbonate with Confusion, Arrhythmias, or Seizures; Treat Per Protocol with Careful Correction and Monitoring.

Answer: (D)

Postoperative electrolyte disturbances show up when the electrical activity in brain and heart is disrupted by out-of-range sodium, potassium, chloride, or bicarbonate. That disruption can lead to confusion, dangerous heart rhythm changes, or seizures. The best approach is to follow the established protocol for electrolyte management, correcting the abnormal value carefully and monitoring the patient closely. This means identifying the specific imbalance with labs, treating it in a controlled way (avoiding overly rapid corrections that can cause further injury, such as rapid sodium correction), and watching neurologic status, ECG, vitals, and labs to ensure safe resolution. Other signs like wound appearance or fever with cough aren’t direct indicators of electrolyte disturbances, so they don’t reflect the same immediate postoperative risk described here.