A37-year-old patient has just arrived in the postanesthesia recovery unit (pacu) after a thyroidectomy. which information is most important to communicate to the surgeon?

The patient has increasing neck swelling. the neck swelling may lead to respiratory difficulty, and rapid intervention is needed to prevent airway obstruction. the incisional pain should be treated but is not unusual after surgery. a heart rate of 112 is not unusual in a patient who has been hyperthyroid and has just arrived in the pacu from surgery. sleepiness in the immediate postoperative period is expected.

Dna overload will occur