Twelve hours after a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, the client keeps cleaning his throat and complains of a drip in his mouth. To accurately assess this, the nurse should test the fluid for mcq given below:
Q Twelve hours after a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, the client keeps cleaning his throat and complains of a drip in his mouth. To accurately assess this, the nurse should test the fluid for(a) Glucose / |
| Do you Agree with Answer comment below |
🧠 Care After Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy
✅ Answer: (a) Glucose
📖 What is a Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy?
Trans = Through
Sphenoidal = Through the sphenoid bone (behind the nose)
Hypophysectomy = Surgical removal of the pituitary gland
👉 This surgery is commonly performed to remove a pituitary tumor.
⚠️ Why is a Drip in the Throat Important?
After transsphenoidal surgery, clear fluid dripping into the throat or from the nose may indicate a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.
CSF leakage increases the risk of:
- Meningitis
- Brain infection
- Delayed healing
🧪 Why Test for Glucose?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) normally contains glucose.
If the drainage tests positive for glucose, it suggests the fluid may be CSF rather than ordinary nasal or throat secretions.
👉 Therefore, testing for glucose helps identify a possible CSF leak.
❌ Why Other Options Are Wrong?
(b) Protein
❌ Protein is present in many body fluids and is not specific for identifying CSF.
(c) Bacteria
❌ Used to diagnose infection, not to confirm a CSF leak.
(d) Blood
❌ Small amounts of blood are common after surgery and do not confirm a CSF leak.
After Pituitary Surgery + Clear Nasal/Throat Drip → Think CSF Leak → Test for Glucose
📌 Exam Tip: Older nursing exams commonly use glucose testing to identify CSF leakage. In modern clinical practice, the most specific laboratory test is beta-2 transferrin, but glucose remains the expected answer in many nursing MCQs.
Concept clarity • Easy recall • Nursing success