What laboratory finding is expected in a client diagnosed with obstructive cholelithiasis?

In a patient diagnosed with obstructive cholelithiasis, an expected laboratory finding would be an elevated level of direct (conjugated) bilirubin. This occurs because the obstruction caused by gallstones can block the bile duct, preventing the normal flow of bile from the liver to the intestine. When bile cannot be excreted, the conjugated bilirubin, which is water-soluble and normally excreted in bile, accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to hyperbilirubinemia.

In this scenario, a direct bilirubin level of 2.5 mg/dL indicates that there is indeed an accumulation of this substance due to the blockage. This finding is significant because it helps differentiate obstructive cholelithiasis from other types of liver dysfunction, where indirect bilirubin levels might be elevated instead.

The other laboratory findings do not support the diagnosis of obstructive cholelithiasis as effectively. For example, serum amylase might remain within the normal range or be slightly elevated in pancreatitis but does not specifically indicate a biliary obstruction. An alkaline phosphatase level of 48 U/L is generally considered to be within normal limits and does not indicate any obstruction. A white blood cell count of 9,