A patient, diagnosed with Addison's disease, is admitted to the emergency department (ED) after spending the day at the lake. The patient is diaphoretic, weak and forgetful. Which intervention would be supportive for these S&S (signs and symptoms)?

A. Diminished serum albumin levels cause water to shift from blood to tissue: In cirrhosis, liver dysfunction leads to decreased production of albumin, a protein that helps maintain oncotic pressure. Low albumin levels cause fluid to shift from the vascular space into the tissues, resulting in ascites and peripheral edema.

B. Portal hypotension causes a fluid shift from the abdominal cavity into the portal veins: Portal hypertension, not hypotension, is a common feature of cirrhosis, but it leads to ascites by increasing pressure in the portal venous system, not by shifting fluid into the portal veins.

C. Hypoaldosteronism causes a fluid volume deficit: shifting water from blood into tissue: Cirrhosis often leads to hyperaldosteronism, not hypoaldosteronism, resulting in sodium and water retention, which contributes to edema.

D. Aberrations of the portal system cause a back-up of blood that leads to hydronephrosis: Hydronephrosis is related to obstruction of the urinary tract, not a complication of portal hypertension or cirrhosis.

A. Administer some insulin: Insulin is not appropriate unless there is evidence of hyperglycemia, which is not suggested by the symptoms described.

B. Prepare the patient to receive a blood transfusion: The symptoms described are not indicative of a need for a blood transfusion but rather suggest adrenal insufficiency.

C. Administer IV glucose: Addisonian crisis can be triggered by stress and dehydration, leading to low blood sugar and symptoms such as weakness and confusion. Administering IV glucose can help manage hypoglycemia and provide immediate support.

D. Collect some urine and assess for glucosuria: The symptoms are more acute and related to adrenal insufficiency rather than glucosuria.