NCLEX RN Practice Question # 955

NCLEX Examination.

Practice Question # 955.

Fluid Volume Deficit

Description

• Dehydration occurs when the fluid intake of the body is not sufficient to meet the fluid needs of the body.
• The goal of treatment is to restore fluid volume, replace electrolytes as needed, and eliminate the cause of the fluid volume deficit.

Types of fluid volume deficits

1. Isotonic dehydration

• Water and dissolved electrolytes are lost in equal proportions.
• Known as hypovolemia, isotonic dehydration is the most common type of dehydration.
• Isotonic dehydration results in decreased circulating blood volume and inadequate tissue perfusion.

2. Hypertonic dehydration

• Water loss exceeds electrolyte loss.
• The clinical problems that occur result from alterations in the concentrations of specific plasma electrolytes.
• Fluid moves from the intracellular compartment into the plasma and interstitial fluid spaces, causing cellular dehydration and shrinkage.

3. Hypotonic dehydration

• Electrolyte loss exceeds water loss.
• The clinical problems that occur result from fluid shifts between compartments, causing a decrease in plasma volume.
• Fluid moves from the plasma and interstitial fluid spaces into the cells, causing a plasma volume deficit and causing the cells to swell.

Causes of fluid volume deficits

1. Isotonic dehydration

• Inadequate intake of fluids and solutes
• Fluid shifts between compartments c. Excessive losses of isotonic body fluids

2. Hypertonic dehydration—conditions that increase fluid loss, such as excessive perspiration, hyperventilation, ketoacidosis, prolonged fevers, diarrhea, early-stage kidney disease, and diabetes insipidus
3. Hypotonic dehydration

• Chronic illness
• Excessive fluid replacement (hypotonic)
• Kidney disease
• Chronic malnutrition