A 59-year-old female who missed her weekly renal dialysis appointment presents with BP 170/90, pulse 60, and respirations 24. Which condition should you suspect?

Study for the Medical FIDSAP v2 Test. Sharpen your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your upcoming test!

Multiple Choice

A 59-year-old female who missed her weekly renal dialysis appointment presents with BP 170/90, pulse 60, and respirations 24. Which condition should you suspect?

Missing dialysis in a patient with kidney failure allows potassium to accumulate because the kidneys can no longer excrete it effectively. Hyperkalemia is a dangerous, acute complication that can cause slowed heart rate and potential arrhythmias, which fits a patient with a pulse around 60 and elevated blood pressure after skipping dialysis. The rapid respirations may reflect metabolic acidosis that often accompanies renal failure and further shifts potassium, but the key issue here is potassium retention. Fluid overload would present more with edema and crackles from pulmonary congestion; anemia and polyuria are less likely to explain this acute presentation. So, the condition to suspect is hyperkalemia.

Missing dialysis in a patient with kidney failure allows potassium to accumulate because the kidneys can no longer excrete it effectively. Hyperkalemia is a dangerous, acute complication that can cause slowed heart rate and potential arrhythmias, which fits a patient with a pulse around 60 and elevated blood pressure after skipping dialysis. The rapid respirations may reflect metabolic acidosis that often accompanies renal failure and further shifts potassium, but the key issue here is potassium retention. Fluid overload would present more with edema and crackles from pulmonary congestion; anemia and polyuria are less likely to explain this acute presentation. So, the condition to suspect is hyperkalemia.

More practice questions