Postoperative vascular injuries may present with which of the following signs?

Postoperative vascular injuries may present with which of the following signs?

• A. Abdominal distension
• B. Abdominal wall or peritoneal hematomas
• C. Fever
• D. Cough

Answer: (B)

Vascular injury during surgery leads to bleeding that collects in tissue planes, forming hematomas. Abdominal wall hematomas show up as a new, tender swelling with possible bruising around the incision or trocar sites. If blood pools in the peritoneal cavity, a peritoneal hematoma (hemoperitoneum) can develop, causing abdominal distension and pain and, if significant, signs of blood loss. These hematomas are the classic postoperative signs of vascular injury because they directly reflect extravasated blood from injured vessels. Abdominal distension can occur for other reasons like ileus or gas, fever points to infection or inflammation, and cough isn’t related to intra-abdominal bleeding.

Vascular injury during surgery leads to bleeding that collects in tissue planes, forming hematomas. Abdominal wall hematomas show up as a new, tender swelling with possible bruising around the incision or trocar sites. If blood pools in the peritoneal cavity, a peritoneal hematoma (hemoperitoneum) can develop, causing abdominal distension and pain and, if significant, signs of blood loss. These hematomas are the classic postoperative signs of vascular injury because they directly reflect extravasated blood from injured vessels. Abdominal distension can occur for other reasons like ileus or gas, fever points to infection or inflammation, and cough isn’t related to intra-abdominal bleeding.