Final answer:
A patient using diuretics for ascites and peripheral edema is expected to develop metabolic alkalosis due to potassium depletion and excess bicarbonate in the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient taking diuretics to control ascites and peripheral edema can expect to develop an acid-base disorder. Diuretics increase the excretion of potassium, which can lead to potassium depletion. One of the consequences of potassium depletion, along with the loss of hydrogen ions through urine, is a disorder known as metabolic alkalosis. This condition is characterized by an excess of bicarbonate in the blood and is commonly seen in patients on prolonged use of diuretics, which fits the description of the patient awaiting a liver transplant.
Therefore, the expected acid-base disorder in a patient using diuretics for controlling ascites and peripheral edema is metabolic alkalosis.