Question

A patient is admitted for dehydration. The patient is given IVs of 5% Dextrose with 0.0% saline at 150c/hour. Forty eight hours later the patient develops the following symptoms: swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, and a very strong bounding pulse. What is the patient experiencing?

a. fluid volume deficit
b. fluid volume overload
c. hypoatremia
d. hyperkalemia

Answer 1

The patient is experiencing fluid volume overload, also known as hypervolemia, due to the administration of IV fluids leading to excess fluid retention manifested by swelling, shortness of breath, and a bounding pulse.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient is admitted for dehydration and is given IVs of 5% Dextrose with 0.0% saline at 150c/hour, and then develops symptoms such as swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, and a very strong bounding pulse 48 hours later, these are indicative of fluid volume overload. This condition, also known as hypervolemia, can occur due to the retention of water and sodium and reflects an imbalance in fluid homeostasis.

The administered IV dextrose solution, although non-electrolyte, can cause an influx of water into the bloodstream, leading to an excess fluid volume if the body cannot properly eliminate it, particularly in cases where kidney function may be compromised or if the rate of infusion is too high for the patient’s needs.