Final answer:
The most likely complication of missing several dialysis treatments for a patient with end-stage renal disease is pulmonary edema, due to fluid volume overload and the subsequent risk of hyperkalemia which can cause severe cardiac issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient with end-stage renal disease missed several dialysis treatments, the most likely complication would be pulmonary edema. Dialysis serves the crucial function of removing excess fluid and toxins from the body, a role that the failing kidneys can no longer perform effectively. Skipping dialysis can lead to fluid overload, which in turn may cause systemic edema and specifically pulmonary edema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs and can be life-threatening.
Additionally, missing dialysis treatments would result in the retention of excess sodium (Na) and the accumulation of potassium in the blood, known as hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia poses a serious risk as it can cause malaise and potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Unlike the choices of severe dehydration and potassium depletion, which are less likely because the kidney's ability to regulate water and electrolytes is compromised, and unlike bacterial infection, which is not directly caused by missing dialysis, fluid volume overload and hyperkalemia are direct consequences of inadequate dialysis.