A client who had surgery for lung cancer has a short-term goal of no impairment in breathing pattern for the next three postoperative days. Which finding indicates the goal has not been achieved?

A client who had surgery for lung cancer has a short-term goal of no impairment in breathing pattern for the next three postoperative days. Which finding indicates the goal has not been achieved?

• A. Pooling of thick secretions in the respiratory tract
• B. Clear breath sounds bilaterally
• C. Normal respiratory rate
• D. No use of accessory muscles

Answer: (A)

Airway clearance and breathing pattern after lung surgery depend on keeping the airways open and secretions moving. When thick secretions pool in the respiratory tract, they block air flow and make breathing harder. This forces the client to work harder to breathe, can cause irregular or elevated breathing patterns, and may lead to reduced ventilation and gas exchange. That’s precisely why pooling of thick secretions indicates the goal of no impairment in breathing pattern has not been achieved. In contrast, clear breath sounds bilaterally, a normal respiratory rate, and no use of accessory muscles all point to a comfortable, effortless breathing pattern with adequate airway clearance, suggesting the goal has been met.

Airway clearance and breathing pattern after lung surgery depend on keeping the airways open and secretions moving. When thick secretions pool in the respiratory tract, they block air flow and make breathing harder. This forces the client to work harder to breathe, can cause irregular or elevated breathing patterns, and may lead to reduced ventilation and gas exchange. That’s precisely why pooling of thick secretions indicates the goal of no impairment in breathing pattern has not been achieved.

In contrast, clear breath sounds bilaterally, a normal respiratory rate, and no use of accessory muscles all point to a comfortable, effortless breathing pattern with adequate airway clearance, suggesting the goal has been met.