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A patient has arrived in the emergency room complaining of chest pain. The patient is confused and does not remember when the chest pain started. What laboratory test result is the highest priority in assisting the nurse in planning care for this patient?
A. Troponin 3.6ng/mL
B. Creatinine 1.7mg/dL
C. Creatine kinase (CK) 50 units/L
D. Potassium 3.1mEq/L

Verified Answer :

Answer:

The highest priority laboratory test result in this case would be A. Troponin 3.6ng/mL.

Explanation:

Troponin is a protein found in heart muscle cells that is released when they are damaged, such as during a heart attack.

Normal levels of troponin are usually very low (typically less than 0.4 ng/mL), so a level of 3.6 ng/mL is significantly elevated and could indicate a heart attack or other serious heart condition. This would be a critical concern for a patient presenting with chest pain, and would likely guide immediate care decisions.

While the other test results may also be important in understanding the patient’s overall health, they are less directly related to the immediate chest pain complaint.

Creatinine levels relate to kidney function, creatine kinase can indicate muscle damage (including but not limited to the heart), and potassium levels affect a variety of body functions including heart rhythm.

However, the elevated troponin level is the most urgent concern in a patient with chest pain.

As always, all test results should be interpreted in the context of the patient’s overall clinical picture.

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