Question

The ambulatory care nurse is preparing a client who is scheduled for a liver biopsy. The nurse reviews the client's record and expects to note which laboratory results documented in the client's chart?

a) Elevated creatinine levels
b) Decreased platelet count
c) Increased white blood cell count
d) Elevated blood glucose levels

Answer 1

In preparation for a liver biopsy, a nurse would likely expect to see a decreased platelet count as a sign of liver dysfunction, which is important for indicating an increased risk of bleeding. Liver function tests (LFTs) including ALT and AST levels would also be relevant.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing a client for a liver biopsy, an ambulatory care nurse would expect to find certain laboratory results that indicate the liver's condition. One result the nurse might anticipate seeing is a decreased platelet count. This is important because the liver plays a crucial role in the production of clotting factors and a decrease in platelets can be indicative of liver dysfunction, which could increase the risk of bleeding during a biopsy procedure.

Liver function tests (LFTs) are a group of blood tests that provide information on the liver's health. These tests might include, among others, checks for elevated levels of enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which are significant when assessing for liver inflammation or damage.