The nurse needs to listen with a stethoscope over the trachea.
A stridor is a high-pitched sound which can be heard over the trachea. It is a sound which indicates a disrupted airflow, probably caused by a swelling in the airway. A radical neck dissection is an operation for cancer of the oropharynx or salivary glands. One of the biggest risk after this surgery is airway obstruction. A stridor will indicate a probable post-operational problem.
