A postoperative client is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with an inflated pressure infuser containing a solution of heparin 2 units/ml attached to an intra-arterial (IA) cannula. Which finding indicates that the heparin infusion has achieved its therapeutic use?

A. Degree of pain using a 10-point scale. Pain assessment is important, but it is not the priority in an emergency trauma situation. Clients involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) without a helmet are at high risk for life-threatening injuries, including hemorrhage and shock. The nurse must first assess vital signs to determine hemodynamic stability.
B. Pulse and blood pressure. The primary concern in trauma patients is circulation and perfusion. Assessing pulse and blood pressure helps determine if the client is experiencing shock, hemorrhage, or traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related autonomic dysfunction. In trauma resuscitation, the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) guide assessment priorities, making circulatory status the first concern after ensuring airway patency.
C. Balance and coordination. A neurological assessment for balance and coordination is not a priority in a critically injured trauma patient. Severe injuries, including intracranial hemorrhage, cervical spine trauma, or internal bleeding, must be ruled out before assessing fine motor function.
D. Bilateral pupillary reaction to light. Pupillary response is part of a neurological assessment and is crucial in identifying traumatic brain injury. However, vital signs must be assessed first to determine hemodynamic stability, as untreated shock or hemorrhage can lead to rapid deterioration or death.

A. Hyperglycemia. While elevated blood glucose can occur in acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic inflammation impairing insulin secretion, it is not an electrolyte imbalance. The question specifically asks about electrolyte-related manifestations.
B. Hypotension. Hypotension in acute pancreatitis is often due to fluid shifts (third-spacing) and systemic inflammation, rather than a direct electrolyte imbalance. Though dehydration and electrolyte losses can contribute to hypotension, this is not the most specific sign of an electrolyte disturbance.
C. Paralytic ileus and abdominal distention. Hypokalemia can lead to paralytic ileus, but ileus and distention are also caused by peritoneal irritation, inflammation, and impaired motility due to pancreatitis itself. While potassium imbalance could contribute, this is not the most direct electrolyte-related symptom.
D. Muscle twitching and digit numbness. Hypocalcemia is a common electrolyte imbalance in acute pancreatitis, caused by fatty acid breakdown binding calcium, leading to saponification. This results in neuromuscular excitability, causing muscle twitching, paresthesia (numbness/tingling), and positive Chvostek’s or Trousseau’s signs. These symptoms are clear indicators of an electrolyte disturbance related to pancreatitis.