Understanding Chronic Illnesses
Understanding Chronic Illnesses ( 4 Questions)
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is receiving hemodialysis three times a week. The nurse should assess the client for which potential complication of hemodialysis?
This is an incorrect option, as hyperkalemia is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to excrete excess potassium. Hemodialysis helps to lower potassium levels by removing it from the blood. However, hyperkalemia may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods high in potassium or takes medications that increase potassium levels, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or potassium-sparing diuretics.
This is an incorrect option, as hypertension is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to regulate fluid and sodium balance. Hemodialysis helps to lower blood pressure by removing excess fluid and sodium from the blood. However, hypertension may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods high in sodium or fluid or takes medications that increase blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids.
This is an incorrect option, as hypocalcemia is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to activate vitamin D and promote calcium absorption from the gut. Hemodialysis helps to correct hypocalcemia by adding calcium to the dialysate solution. However, hypocalcemia may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods low in calcium or takes medications that lower calcium levels, such as phosphate binders or bisphosphonates.
Disequilibrium syndrome is a neurological complication of hemodialysis that occurs when the rate of solute removal from the blood exceeds the rate of solute removal from the brain, creating an osmotic gradient that causes fluid to shift into the brain cells, resulting in cerebral edema. Symptoms of disequilibrium syndrome include headache, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, confusion, and seizures. It usually occurs during or shortly after the first few dialysis sessions or when there is a large decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.
Disequilibrium syndrome is a neurological complication of hemodialysis that occurs when the rate of solute removal from the blood exceeds the rate of solute removal from the brain, creating an osmotic gradient that causes fluid to shift into the brain cells, resulting in cerebral edema. Symptoms of disequilibrium syndrome include headache, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, confusion, and seizures. It usually occurs during or shortly after the first few dialysis sessions or when there is a large decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.
Incorrect options:
A) Hyperkalemia - This is an incorrect option, as hyperkalemia is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to excrete excess potassium. Hemodialysis helps to lower potassium levels by removing it from the blood. However, hyperkalemia may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods high in potassium or takes medications that increase potassium levels, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or potassium-sparing diuretics.
B) Hypertension - This is an incorrect option, as hypertension is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to regulate fluid and sodium balance. Hemodialysis helps to lower blood pressure by removing excess fluid and sodium from the blood. However, hypertension may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods high in sodium or fluid or takes medications that increase blood pressure, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids.
C) Hypocalcemia - This is an incorrect option, as hypocalcemia is a common complication of CKD that occurs when the kidneys are unable to activate vitamin D and promote calcium absorption from the gut. Hemodialysis helps to correct hypocalcemia by adding calcium to the dialysate solution. However, hypocalcemia may occur between dialysis sessions if the client consumes foods low in calcium or takes medications that lower calcium levels, such as phosphate binders or bisphosphonates.