Question

A patient is admitted to the emergency room with second-degree (partial-thickness) burns over 30% of the total body surface area with poor skin turgor, a urine output of less than 50 ml over the past two hours, a rapid and thready pulse, and restlessness. the nurse determines that these symptoms might indicate which type of imbalance?

Answer 1

The signs and symptoms of this burn patient indicate the imbalance is an extracellular fluid volume deficit. If a patient's intake of sodium and water are less than the output, this can cause a condition known as isotonic loss.