Question

A client has been admitted to the hospital unit with signs and symptoms of hypovolemia; however, the client has not lost weight. the client exhibits a localized enlargement of her abdomen. what condition could the client be presenting

Answer 1

The condition is called "third-spacing". It means fluid is lost from the vascular compartment or the blood vessels but does not exit the body. This will present with signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock such as decrease in blood pressure and increase in heart rate without the weight loss since fluid is retained inside the body. Primary example include internal bleeding such as in pelvic trauma without open wounds; blood from the pelvic fracture only pools in the pelvis but circulating blood in the blood vessels is already reduced.