A patient is admitted to the critical care unit in congestive heart failure secondary to renal insufficiency.The patient reports that over the past few weeks, his urine output has decreased, and he has developed peripheral edema and ascites.A diagnosis of renal failure is made.The nurse suspects the main cause of ascites is

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Individuals with kidney failure may have ascites caused by volume overload, which forces fluid into the abdomen because of increased capillary hydrostatic pressures.However, ascites may or may not represent fluid volume excess.Severe ascites in persons with compromised liver function may result from decreased plasma proteins.The ascites occurs because the increased vascular pressure associated with liver dysfunction forces fluid and plasma proteins from the vascular space into the interstitial space and abdominal cavity.Although the individual may exhibit marked edema, the intravascular space is volume depleted, and the patient is hypovolemic.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Critical Care Unit in Congestive