How often should vital signs be assessed following wound evisceration?

• A. Every 15 minutes.
• B. Every 4 hours.
• C. Every 2 hours.
• D. Every 24 hours.

Answer: (A)

After wound evisceration, the patient is at high risk for rapid deterioration due to bleeding and shock. Because vital signs can change quickly in this emergency, monitoring them very frequently in the immediate stabilization period is essential. Frequent checks help detect early warning signs—such as a rapid heart rate with falling blood pressure, increasing breathing rate, or decreasing oxygen saturation—and allow swift interventions (like protective covering of exposed viscera, maintaining sterile technique, fluids as ordered, and rapid notification of the surgeon). If vital signs were checked only infrequently, a sudden decline could be missed, delaying life-saving actions. In the early moments after evisceration, treating them with very frequent vital sign assessments is the safest approach to catch instability early and guide prompt management.