A nurse is assessing a preoperative client. The client has a history of atrial fibrillation and is taking warfarin daily. Which test order will the nurse request from the provider?

A. Postoperative ileus and significant drainage via an NG tube are more likely to lead to electrolyte losses rather than elevated levels. Elevated magnesium levels are less common and typically associated with conditions such as renal failure or excessive magnesium intake.
B. Calcium levels can be affected by gastrointestinal losses, including drainage via an NG tube. Significant fluid loss can lead to hemoconcentration, potentially causing a relative increase in calcium levels initially. However, prolonged fluid loss can lead to overall depletion of electrolytes, including calcium.
C. When fluids are lost through the NG tube, potassium, which is an intracellular electrolyte, can be lost in large amounts. Prolonged drainage can lead to hypokalemia (decreased potassium levels), which can result in muscle weakness, cardiac dysrhythmias, and other serious complications.
D. Elevated sodium levels (hypernatremia) are more commonly associated with dehydration or excessive sodium intake rather than drainage via an NG tube. In this scenario, sodium levels are less likely to be affected compared to potassium.

A. Deferasirox is a medication used to treat chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions. It is not used as an antidote for heparin.
B. Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin. It works by binding to heparin, neutralizing its anticoagulant effects. Protamine sulfate is typically used in cases of heparin overdose or when rapid reversal of heparin's effects is necessary, such as during surgery or if there is active bleeding.
C. Acetylcysteine is used as an antidote for acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose due to its ability to replenish glutathione stores in the liver and protect against liver damage. It has no role in reversing heparin's effects.
D. Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin, not heparin. It promotes the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver that are inhibited by warfarin, thus reversing its anticoagulant effects.