Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Simulated
A client who is scheduled for an open cholecystectomy has a 20-pack-year history of smoking. For which postoperative complication is the client most at risk?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Smoking impairs lung function and ciliary clearance, increasing the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia post-surgery due to reduced lung expansion and mucus clearance.