What patient history is most concerning when assessing a client for bleeding issues post-surgery?

When assessing a client for potential bleeding issues following surgery, recent full-dose anticoagulant therapy raises significant concern. Anticoagulants are medications that reduce the blood's ability to clot, thereby increasing the risk of excessive bleeding, especially after a surgical procedure. This is particularly critical in the postoperative period when the body is already vulnerable and healing from surgical interventions.

Patients on anticoagulant therapy may have prolonged bleeding times, which can lead to complications such as hematoma formation or hemorrhage. This risk necessitates close monitoring of the patient's coagulation status, and early identification of bleeding complications is essential for prompt intervention.

In contrast, other options may represent concerns for patient well-being, but they do not directly correlate with elevated bleeding risk. For instance, reports of nausea and lack of appetite could indicate various issues, including pain management or the body's response to anesthesia, but do not suggest bleeding. Increased discomfort at the incision site might indicate inflammation or infection, but again, it does not directly imply a bleeding issue. Minimal urine output, while a potential sign of kidney issues, dehydration, or shock, does not specifically indicate bleeding risk. Therefore, the history of anticoagulant therapy is the most critical in the context of assessing bleeding complications after surgery.