The nurse cares for a client with severe ascites due to alcoholic cirrhosis. Which description best explains the mechanism for ascites development in this client?

Blood flow is diverted from the abdominal muscles to the liver due to increased intravascular pressure

Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels promotes movement of sodium into the peritoneum

Fluid moves from the intravascular space to the interstitial space due to decreased serum albumin levels

The liver metabolizes increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Blood flow is diverted from the abdominal muscles to the liver due to increased intravascular pressure is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the distribution of blood in the body, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Intravascular pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels, which can be affected by various factors, such as blood volume, cardiac output, or vascular resistance. Increased intravascular pressure can cause blood flow to be diverted from the peripheral areas, such as the abdominal muscles, to the central areas, such as the liver, which can result in symptoms such as portal hypertension, which is a high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver.

Choice B reason: Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels promotes movement of sodium into the peritoneum is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the diameter of the blood vessels in the abdomen, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Vasodilation is the widening of the blood vessels, which can be caused by various factors, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins, or histamine. Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels, which are the blood vessels that supply the intestines, can increase the blood flow and the permeability of the capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels, allowing sodium and water to move from the blood to the peritoneum, which is the membrane that covers the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. However, this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the amount of sodium and water that moves through the capillaries is normally balanced by the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels that drains the excess fluid and returns it to the blood.

Choice C reason: Fluid moves from the intravascular space to the interstitial space due to decreased serum albumin levels is the best description because it is a condition that affects the osmotic pressure of the blood, which is the main mechanism for ascites development in this client. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by the solutes, such as proteins, in a solution, which determines the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, such as the capillary wall. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood, which is produced by the liver and helps to maintain the osmotic pressure of the blood. Decreased serum albumin levels can be caused by various factors, such as liver failure, malnutrition, or inflammation. Decreased serum albumin levels can reduce the osmotic pressure of the blood, which means that the blood cannot retain enough water, causing fluid to move from the intravascular space, which is the space within the blood vessels, to the interstitial space, which is the space between the cells and the blood vessels. This can result in edema, which is the swelling of the tissues due to fluid accumulation, especially in the abdomen, which is called ascites.

Choice D reason: The liver metabolizes increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the hormonal regulation of water and sodium balance, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone are hormones that help the kidneys retain water and sodium, respectively, and regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland, while aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands. The liver is involved in the metabolism and clearance of these hormones, which means that it breaks them down and removes them from the blood. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can be caused by various factors, such as dehydration, heart failure, or renal failure. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can cause the kidneys to reabsorb more water and sodium, which can increase the blood volume and the blood pressure, but this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen is not from the kidneys, but from the capillaries.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Serum osmolality 380 mOsm/kg is the expected finding because it is a sign of dehydration, which is a common complication of diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is a condition where the body does not produce enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is a hormone that helps the kidneys retain water and regulate the fluid balance in the body. A severe traumatic brain injury can damage the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, which are parts of the brain that produce and secrete ADH. Without enough ADH, the kidneys produce large amounts of diluted urine, which causes the loss of water and electrolytes from the body. This increases the concentration of solutes in the blood, which is measured by the serum osmolality. A normal serum osmolality is between 275 and 295 mOsm/kg, while a high serum osmolality is above 300 mOsm/kg.

Choice B reason: Urine output of 500 mL in 24 hours is not the expected finding because it is a sign of oliguria, which is a low urine output. Oliguria can be caused by various factors, such as dehydration, kidney failure, or urinary obstruction, and can result in symptoms such as fluid retention, swelling, or electrolyte imbalance. Oliguria is not a common finding in diabetes insipidus, because the condition causes polyuria, which is a high urine output. Polyuria can be defined as urine output of more than 3 liters in 24 hours, or more than 200 mL per hour.

Choice C reason: Weight gain of 5 pounds in 48 hours is not the expected finding because it is a sign of fluid overload, which is a condition where the body retains too much fluid, which can cause edema, hypertension, and heart failure. Fluid overload can be caused by various factors, such as heart failure, kidney failure, or liver failure, and can result in symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or fatigue. Fluid overload is not a common finding in diabetes insipidus, because the condition causes dehydration, which is a loss of fluid from the body. Dehydration can cause weight loss, not weight gain.

Choice D reason: Decreased serum hematocrit levels is not the expected finding because it is a sign of anemia, which is a condition where the blood has a low level of hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. Anemia can be caused by various factors, such as blood loss, iron deficiency, or bone marrow failure, and can result in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, or pallor. Anemia is not a common finding in diabetes insipidus, because the condition does not affect the production or function of the red blood cells. Diabetes insipidus can cause increased serum hematocrit levels, not decreased, because the loss of water from the body can increase the proportion of red blood cells in the blood.

A. Increased serum hydrostatic pressure B. Increased kidney filtration pressure C. Decreased capillary osmotic pressure D. Intracellular dehydration

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Increased serum hydrostatic pressure is not the best explanation for the edema because it is caused by fluid overload, not malnutrition. Fluid overload can result from heart failure, kidney failure, or excessive fluid intake.

Choice B reason: Increased kidney filtration pressure is not the best explanation for the edema because it is caused by increased blood flow to the kidneys, not malnutrition. Increased blood flow to the kidneys can result from hypertension, diabetes, or renal artery stenosis.

Choice C reason: Decreased capillary osmotic pressure is the best explanation for the edema because it is caused by low plasma protein levels, which are common in malnutrition. Low plasma protein levels reduce the force that pulls fluid back into the capillaries from the interstitial space, leading to fluid accumulation in the tissues.

Choice D reason: Intracellular dehydration is not the best explanation for the edema because it is caused by loss of water from the cells, not malnutrition. Loss of water from the cells can result from hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, or osmotic diuresis.

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