A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of splenectomy. Which complication should the nurse prioritize monitoring for in this patient?

A. Increased risk of severe bacterial infections: The spleen filters the blood and houses macrophages that fight encapsulated bacteria. Patients without a spleen are at lifelong risk for "Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection" (OPSI), specifically from S. pneumoniae. B. Hypoglycemia: The pancreas regulates glucose; the spleen has no direct role in glucose metabolism. C. Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis: This is a risk for any post-op patient due to immobility, but it is not specific to the loss of the spleen's physiological function. D. Development of chronic anemia: The bone marrow is the primary site of RBC production. While the spleen recycles old RBCs, its removal does not cause chronic anemia.