Question

The nurse reviews the laboratory results for a patient on the first postoperative day after a hiatal hernia repair. Which finding would indicate to the nurse that the patient is at increased risk for poor wound healing?

a. Potassium 3.5 mEq/L
b. Albumin level 2.2 g/dL
c. Hemoglobin 11.2 g/dL
d. White blood cells 11,900/µL

Answer 1

The low albumin level of 2.2 g/dL indicates an increased risk for poor wound healing, as albumin is essential for tissue repair and a level this low can imply malnutrition or a compromised healing ability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory finding that would indicate to the nurse that the patient is at increased risk for poor wound healing after a hiatal hernia repair is b. Albumin level 2.2 g/dL. Albumin is a protein in the blood that is essential for tissue repair and growth. A normal albumin level is usually above 3.5 g/dL, and a level of 2.2 g/dL is considered low, which can imply malnutrition or a compromised ability to heal. While the other options, such as potassium level, hemoglobin, and white blood cells count, are also important, they are within normal or expected ranges postoperatively. Therefore, the low albumin is the most significant finding related to wound healing risk.