A nurse is planning care for a client who has anorexia and has manifestations of malnutrition. When reviewing the client's laboratory values. which of the following test results should the nurse expect to be low?

A. Troponin:
Troponin is a protein found in the heart muscle. Elevated levels of troponin in the blood indicate damage to the heart, often due to a heart attack or other cardiac issues. This marker is crucial in diagnosing heart-related problems.

B. Albumin:
Albumin is a protein produced by the liver and is essential for maintaining blood volume and regulating fluid balance. It also helps transport various substances in the blood. Low levels of albumin are indicative of malnutrition, liver disease, or kidney disorders.

C. D-dimer:
D-dimer is a substance in the blood that is released when a blood clot breaks up. Elevated levels of D-dimer can indicate the presence of an abnormal blood clot, but it is not specific to malnutrition. It is often used in diagnosing conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).

D. Creatinine:
Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles and excreted by the kidneys. Creatinine levels in the blood can indicate how well the kidneys are functioning. Elevated levels can suggest kidney damage or other kidney-related issues but are not directly related to malnutrition.

A. To remove gastric acid that might cause dyspepsia:
This statement is not accurate. Measuring gastric residuals is not done to remove gastric acid but rather to ensure that the previous feeding has been digested and moved into the intestines before the next feeding is administered.

B. To identify delayed gastric emptying:This is the correct purpose. Measuring gastric residual helps assess whether the stomach is properly emptying its contents. High residual volumes can indicate delayed gastric emptying, which can increase the risk of aspiration and other complications during enteral feeding.

C. To determine the client's electrolyte balance:
Measuring gastric residuals is not used to assess the client's overall electrolyte balance. Electrolyte balance is typically assessed through blood tests and clinical evaluations, not by checking gastric residuals.

D. To confirm the placement of the NG tube:
Although verifying NG tube placement is critical before feeding, this is typically done by checking the tube’s external length, aspirating gastric contents, and confirming placement through pH testing or an X-ray, not by measuring gastric residual.