The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from a surgical resection of the bowel for cancer
Which of the following laboratory results would cause the nurse to be concerned that the patient is at risk for developing an enterocutaneous fistula? 1. hemoglobin level 12.1 mcg/dL
2. serum albumin level 2.1 mg/dL
3. serum sodium 142 mEq/dL
4. serum potassium 4.3 mEq/dL
2
Rationale: A low albumin level of less than 3 mg/dL is a known risk factor for the development of enterocutaneous fistula since this is a major indicator of malnutrition. In malnourished states, tissue repair and regeneration is compromised and bowel anastamoses are more likely to fail which allows gastrointestinal contents to leak into the peritoneum. The serum albumin level is the laboratory result that should cause the nurse to be concerned. The other laboratory values are within normal limits and do not contribute to the patient's risk for developing this type of fistula.
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