Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

What might be a potential risk factor indicated by elevated liver function tests in a patient preoperatively?

1. Chronic kidney disease

2. Pancreatitis

3. Sepsis

4. Hepatitis

The correct answer is: Hepatitis

Elevated liver function tests in a patient preoperatively can be indicative of liver dysfunction or damage, with hepatitis being one of the most common potential underlying conditions. Hepatitis can lead to an increase in liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels, which can reveal the liver's compromised status. This is crucial to recognize preoperatively, as it may affect the patient's response to anesthesia, medication metabolism, and overall surgical risk. While chronic kidney disease, pancreatitis, and sepsis may indeed be associated with changes in liver function, they are less directly tied to elevated liver enzymes specifically indicative of liver insult. Chronic kidney disease primarily affects renal function, while pancreatitis involves the pancreas. Sepsis can lead to multi-organ dysfunction, including liver effects, but it is typically a more complex and less direct association than that seen with hepatitis.