A patient is admitted with fluid overload. What clinical manifestations can the nurse expect to notice?
Explanation
• Fluid overload, or hypervolemia, is an abnormal increase in the volume of blood plasma due to an increase in total body sodium content with an increase in total body weight
• Fluid overload can manifest as an increased right atrial pressure or central venous pressure as consequence to a delayed emptying and filling of the right ventricle
• Excessive fluid in the lungs leads to coughing, dyspnea, and crackles that can be ausultated over the involved lung area
• Edema is a palpable swelling produced by expansion of the interstitial fluid volume, and can be generalized or localized
• Rapid weight loss and a decrease in systolic blood pressure is seen in fluid deficiency