Final answer:
In a patient treated with thiazide diuretics and on enteral feeding, one would expect laboratory results to show hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and potentially hypochloremia, due to increased excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride in the urine.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a 72-year-old woman with chronic heart failure and symptomatic edema who is on enteral feeding and treated with thiazide diuretics, one would expect certain changes in her laboratory values. Thiazide diuretics act on the distal convoluted tubule in the kidneys to inhibit sodium and chloride reabsorption, leading to increased urine excretion of these ions. As a result, laboratory studies may show hyponatremia (low sodium level) and hypokalemia (low potassium level), since both sodium and potassium can be lost in the urine.
Furthermore, the use of thiazides could lead to hypochloremia (low chloride level) due to the increased chloride excretion. Additionally, because thiazides promote water excretion, patients may experience an increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations, due to hemoconcentration. The enteral feeding method might affect electrolyte and fluid balance as well, potentially exacerbating imbalances created by the diuretic, hence close monitoring of fluid intake and output, as well as regular blood tests, are recommended in such cases.