What postoperative complication is a patient with decreased activity, obesity, and incisional pain most likely to experience?

Following surgery, patients with decreased activity levels, obesity, and incisional pain are at a higher risk for hypoventilation. Decreased activity can lead to shallow breathing, as patients may become hesitant to take deep breaths due to pain at the incision site. Obesity further complicates this situation, as excess weight can put additional pressure on the diaphragm and the lungs, making it more challenging to achieve adequate ventilation.

Incisional pain can discourage appropriate respiratory mechanics, leading patients to avoid deep inhalation and coughing, which can contribute to the buildup of secretions in the lungs and ultimately result in ineffective gas exchange. Hypoventilation can increase the risk for complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia, but the immediate post-operative concern for these patients is the likelihood of hypoventilation due to their specific risk factors.

In summary, the combination of obesity, decreased activity, and incisional pain sets the stage for hypoventilation, making it the most likely postoperative complication for this patient.