Question

A female client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain and a possible ectopic pregnancy. She tells the nurse that her pain is gone, but she is now experiencing a generalized abdominal aching. Her blood pressure has decreased and her pulse has Increased over the past two hours. While waiting for the healthcare provider to arrive, which intravenous solution is best for the nurse to initiate?

a. Normal Saline (NS) at 20 mL/hour.
b. Lactated Ringer's (LR) at 150 mL/hour.
c. D5W/0.45 NS at 125 mL/hour.
d. Dextrose 10% (D10W) at 83 mL/hour.

Answer 1

Lactated Ringer's (LR) at 150 mL/hour is the best intravenous solution to initiate for a patient with suspected internal bleeding due to ectopic pregnancy as it rapidly restores fluids and electrolytes. The option (B) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

A female client with a diagnosis of right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain and a possible ectopic pregnancy is experiencing signs that may indicate internal bleeding such as the resolution of pain, generalized abdominal aching, decreased blood pressure, and increased pulse. In such a critical situation, the goal is to stabilize the patient and restore blood volume. The best intravenous solution to initiate in this case would likely be Lactated Ringer's (LR) at 150 mL/hour, as this isotonic solution helps to replace lost

fluids and electrolytes promptly and is most effective in rapidly expanding the intravascular compartment, which is vital in a hemorrhagic situation such as a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, option (B) is correct.