What lab test is critical for evaluating a patient with suspected liver failure?

Liver function tests (LFTs) are crucial for evaluating a patient with suspected liver failure because they provide key insights into the liver's ability to perform its essential functions. These tests typically assess levels of various enzymes, bilirubin, and proteins that indicate liver health and functionality. Elevated liver enzymes (such as ALT and AST), increased bilirubin levels, and decreased albumin can reflect liver cell injury, cholestasis, and impaired synthetic function, respectively.

In the context of suspected liver failure, LFTs can help clinicians determine the severity of liver dysfunction, monitor disease progression, and inform treatment decisions. While a coagulation profile can provide valuable information regarding the liver’s ability to produce clotting factors, and a complete blood count can offer insights into overall health and potential complications, LFTs are specifically targeted to assess liver function. Arterial blood gases are more relevant for evaluating respiratory and metabolic status rather than liver function, thus not being as critical in this scenario.