A patient with pancreatic cancer develops ascites, and 2 liters of fluid are removed via paracentesis. What schedule should the nurse follow to monitor the patient’s blood pressure after this procedure?

Choice A rationale Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure every 1 hour for 2 hours after paracentesis may not be sufficient. Paracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity (a condition called ascites). This is a common problem in people with certain diseases, including liver and kidney disease. Changes in blood pressure can occur rapidly after this procedure, so more frequent monitoring is needed immediately after the procedure. Choice B rationale Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure every 5 minutes for one hour after paracentesis may be too frequent and could cause unnecessary stress for the patient. It is important to balance the need for monitoring with the patient’s comfort and well-being. Choice C rationale Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure every 15 minutes for one hour, then every 1 hour for 2 hours after paracentesis is a good schedule. This allows for close monitoring immediately after the procedure, when complications are most likely to occur. It then allows for continued monitoring as the patient stabilizes. Choice D rationale Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure every 5 minutes for 30 minutes, then every 4 hours thereafter may not provide enough monitoring in the immediate post-procedure period. While it is important to continue monitoring, the first few hours after the procedure are a critical time when complications are most likely to occur.