Liver Function test

[deepurple]

I wonder about the diagnostic test for orthopedic patients which are undergo liver function test. What i know about the LFT is to diagnose patient for liver disorder but why to orthopedic patients still need to undergo LFT. I cannot see the related between orthopedic cases with liver function.Can anyone here help me to explain further about diagnostic test in LFT which that related to orthopedic cases.I want to learn about it further. Thank you

[blessed2bfree]

Maybe due to the medications they are on? Orthopedic patients probably have a lot of pain, and they have to take a lot of pain meds. Aren't pain meds toxic to the liver?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

there doesn't have to be anything wrong for a doctor to order tests. the doctor is apparently investigating the patient's liver function for some reason. he may suspect something and it doesn't necessarily have to be related to the reason the patient has been admitted. that is the doctor's prerogative. you will see physician's doing this kind of testing for unrelated things all the time while they have the patient in the hospital. get into the chart, read the doctor's h&p and progress notes to see if there is an indication of why he is doing this and talk with the patient. you can read about liver function tests on these websites:

• medicine net procedures & tests a to z index http://www.medicinenet.com/procedures_and_tests/article.htm
  
• web md index list of tests http://www.webmd.com/a_to_z_guide/medical_tests.htm
  
• lab tests online http://www.labtestsonline.org/
  
• http://library.med.utah.edu/webpath/webpath.html - the internet pathology laboratory for medical education
  
• also see the "tests" link in the a.d.a.m. illustrated health encyclopedia http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/index.htm