Match the endocrine problem with its clinical manifestations.

Choice A reason: Bilirubin causes jaundice, not hepatic coma, which results from ammonia accumulation in liver failure. Ammonia is the key, making this incorrect, as it misattributes the cause of hepatic coma to a substance unrelated to the nurse’s understanding of encephalopathy.

Choice B reason: Calcium imbalances affect muscles or nerves, not directly causing hepatic coma, which is ammonia-driven. Ammonia is correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s recognition of the primary substance responsible for hepatic encephalopathy symptoms.

Choice C reason: Sodium imbalances cause neurological issues but not hepatic coma, which is linked to ammonia buildup. Ammonia is the cause, making this incorrect, as it misidentifies the substance the nurse would associate with hepatic coma in liver dysfunction.

Choice D reason: High ammonia levels from liver failure impair brain function, causing hepatic coma (encephalopathy). This aligns with pathophysiology, making it the correct substance the nurse would identify as the primary cause of hepatic coma in patients with liver disease.

Choice A reason: Excessive oral fluid intake from thirst doesn’t cause ascites, which results from liver dysfunction. Portal hypertension is a cause, making this incorrect, as it misattributes ascites to fluid intake rather than the nurse’s understanding of cirrhosis-related fluid shifts.

Choice B reason: Portal hypertension in cirrhosis increases pressure, pushing proteins into the peritoneal cavity, causing ascites. This aligns with liver pathophysiology, making it a correct cause the nurse would identify for ascites in a patient with liver cirrhosis.

Choice C reason: Decreased albumin synthesis in cirrhosis reduces colloid oncotic pressure, leading to fluid leakage into the peritoneal cavity, causing ascites. This aligns with liver dysfunction, making it a correct cause the nurse would recognize in cirrhosis-related ascites.

Choice D reason: Poor nutrition may cause weight loss, not ascites, which is fluid accumulation from liver issues. Low albumin is a cause, making this incorrect, as it misidentifies the nurse’s expected mechanisms for ascites in liver cirrhosis patients.