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.

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