A patient complaining of mouth soreness had gastric bypass surgery 1 year ago. During the assessment, the nurse notes the patient's tongue is beefy, red, and smooth and the patient's skin appears yellowish. The nurse correlates these findings to a decreased value of which diagnostic test?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including mouth soreness, a beefy, red, and smooth tongue, and yellowish skin, are indicative of vitamin B12 deficiency, which is a common complication after gastric bypass surgery due to altered absorption. Vitamin B12 is crucial for the production of red blood cells and neurological function.

A Patient Complaining of Mouth Soreness Had Gastric Bypass Surgery