Final answer:
Edema in chronic kidney disease is caused by a decrease in colloid osmotic pressure due to protein loss in urine, leading to fluid accumulation in the tissues. Damaged kidney glomeruli result in decreased serum osmolarity and contribute to generalized edema. Treatment involves managing the underlying CKD to reduce the fluid imbalance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formation of edema in a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the result of physiological processes involving fluid balance disruption. One significant contributor to the development of edema is the malfunctioning of the kidneys, which fail to filter excess fluid from the blood properly. In CKD, glomerulonephritis can cause inflammation of the nephrons' glomeruli, leading to protein loss in the urine, decreased plasma protein levels, and lowered colloid osmotic pressure. This imbalance causes water to move from the blood into the surrounding tissues, thus leading to generalized edema.
Additionally, the inability of damaged kidney glomeruli to retain proteins leads to a decrease in serum osmolarity, promoting the movement of water into interstitial spaces and contributing to edema. Moreover, decreased production of plasma proteins due to severe liver disease can further exacerbate this condition. The PN should understand that treating the edema involves addressing the underlying cause, which is often the compromised kidney function in CKD.