Which of the following is a common sign of hypoxemia in a postoperative patient?

Confusion is a common sign of hypoxemia in a postoperative patient. Hypoxemia refers to a deficiency of oxygen in the blood, which can lead to inadequate oxygen delivery to the brain and other organs. When the brain does not receive enough oxygen, cognitive function may be impaired, resulting in confusion or altered mental status. This is especially relevant in the postoperative context where patients may already be undergoing changes in their physiological state due to anesthesia, medications, and pain.

Recognizing confusion as a symptom is crucial in postoperative care since it can indicate that a patient is not receiving sufficient oxygen, which might necessitate further evaluation or intervention, such as oxygen supplementation or monitoring of respiratory function.

While other options might appear relevant in different contexts, they are not typically associated with the immediate signs of hypoxemia in the postoperative setting. For example, blurred vision may be related to various causes such as medication side effects or changes in blood pressure rather than directly indicating hypoxemia. Hypotension can have multiple causes, and while it might coincide with hypoxemia, it is not a direct sign of it. Increased appetite would not be expected in a patient recovering from surgery, especially in the immediate postoperative period, as many patients experience decreased appetite or nausea following