Final answer:
A patient with low blood pressure, confusion, and thirst likely has severe dehydration, requiring intravenous fluid replenishment to restore proper hydration and stabilize vital signs.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient arriving in the emergency department with a blood pressure of 70/45, displaying confusion and complaining of thirst, is likely experiencing severe dehydration. This state can dangerously reduce blood pressure and blood volume, leading to circulatory failure.
Dehydration can result from multiple causes such as excessive vomiting, diarrhoea, or sweating, which can lead to fluid volume deficit. The symptoms such as low blood pressure, confusion, and extreme thirst indicate that the body's extracellular and intracellular fluid volumes are depleted, prompting an urgent need for intravenous fluid replenishment.