A client is admitted to the hospital with dehydration and hyponatremia.
The nurse is preparing to start an intravenous (IV) infusion.
Which of the following IV fluids is the most appropriate for this client?
Normal saline (0.9% NaCl).
Half normal saline (0.45% NaCl).
Lactated Ringer’s.
D5W (5% dextrose in water).
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Normal saline (0.9% NaCl).
Rationale: Normal saline is the most appropriate choice for a client with dehydration and hyponatremia.
It provides a balanced solution with sodium and chloride, which can help correct hyponatremia and rehydrate the client.
It is an isotonic solution and is commonly used for fluid resuscitation.
Choice B rationale:
Half normal saline (0.45% NaCl).
Rationale: Half normal saline is also an isotonic solution, but it contains less sodium than normal saline.
In a case of hyponatremia, it's better to use a solution with a higher sodium concentration, making choice A (normal saline) more appropriate.
Choice C rationale:
Lactated Ringer’s.
Rationale: Lactated Ringer's is another isotonic solution, but it may not be the best choice for a client with hyponatremia.
It contains lactate, which can be metabolized to bicarbonate, potentially worsening the client's hyponatremia.
Therefore, it's not the most appropriate option in this case.
Choice D rationale:
D5W (5% dextrose in water).
Rationale: D5W is a hypotonic solution and should not be used for rehydration in a client with hyponatremia.
It can exacerbate the electrolyte imbalance and is not suitable for addressing dehydration.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Albumin (5% or 25%) Albumin is the most appropriate IV fluid for a client with hypoalbuminemia and shock.
Albumin is a colloid solution that helps to increase oncotic pressure, which can be decreased in conditions like hypoalbuminemia.
This increased oncotic pressure can help draw fluids back into the vascular space, improving intravascular volume and blood pressure.
Therefore, it is a suitable choice for a patient with shock.
The two concentrations mentioned, 5% and 25%, refer to the percentage of albumin in the solution, and the choice between them depends on the severity of the patient's condition and the desired effect.
The 5% solution is often used for volume expansion and to improve hemodynamics, while the 25% solution is used for rapid volume expansion.
Choice B rationale:
Dextrans (Dextran-40 or Dextran-70) Dextrans are another type of colloid solution, but they are not the best choice for this specific situation.
Dextrans are often used as volume expanders but are more commonly employed in conditions where there is no issue with albumin levels.
In this case, the primary concern is hypoalbuminemia, and using albumin-based solutions would be more appropriate.
Choice C rationale:
Gelatin (Gelofusine or Haemaccel) Gelatin-based solutions are also colloids and can be used for volume expansion.
However, they are not the best choice for a patient with hypoalbuminemia because they do not address the low albumin levels.
Albumin solutions are preferred in such cases to help restore oncotic pressure and improve intravascular volume.
Choice D rationale:
Plasma protein fraction (Plasmanate or Plasmasteril) Plasma protein fraction solutions, also known as human albumin, are similar to albumin solutions.
However, in this context, albumin solutions are more commonly used.
Plasma protein fraction solutions may be indicated in specific situations, but the primary choice for a patient with hypoalbuminemia and shock would be albumin-based solutions, as they are specifically designed to address albumin deficiencies.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Fluid deficit (in mL) = body weight (in kg) x 0.03.
Rationale: This calculation significantly underestimates the fluid deficit for a child with moderate dehydration.
Dehydration often requires more significant fluid replacement.
Choice B rationale:
Fluid deficit (in mL) = body weight (in kg) x 0.06.
Rationale: This calculation overestimates the fluid deficit for a child with moderate dehydration.
Using this formula would result in excessive fluid replacement, which can be harmful.
Choice C rationale:
Fluid deficit (in mL) = body weight (in kg) x 0.1.
Rationale: This calculation overestimates the fluid deficit for a child with moderate dehydration.
Using this formula would result in excessive fluid replacement, which can be harmful.
Choice D rationale:
Fluid deficit (in mL) = body weight (in kg) x 0.04.
Rationale: This is The correct answer.
The appropriate fluid deficit calculation for a child who weighs 12 kg with moderate dehydration is to multiply their body weight by 0.04.
For this child, it would be 12 kg x 0.04 = 480 mL.
This formula is a commonly used guideline to estimate fluid deficit in cases of dehydration.
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