The nurse is concerned that the client's midsternal wound is at risk for dehiscence. Which of the ...

ANS: 4
A strategy to prevent dehiscence is to use a folded thin blanket or pillow placed over an ab-dominal wound when the client is coughing. This provides a splint to the area, supporting the healing tissue when coughing increases the intraabdominal pressure. A client who has an infec-tion is at risk for poor wound healing and dehiscence. However, prophylactic use of antibiotics is not the best intervention to prevent dehiscence. Using appropriate sterile technique is always im-portant to prevent the development of infection but is not the best intervention to prevent dehis-cence.