The nurse is caring for an 8-year-old following a routine tonsillectomy. Which finding should be reported immediately?
A. Reluctance to swallow
B. Drooling of blood-tinged saliva
C. An axillary temperature of 99°F
D. High-pitched sound when breathing
Correct Answer: D. High-pitched sound when breathing
Options D: One complication from a tonsillectomy is respiratory stridor (a high-pitched sound) which is a sign of airway obstruction and is considered to be an emergency.
Options A, B, and C: These are expected findings following a tonsillectomy.