Monitoring Fluid Status in a Patient With Ascites

GI & Hepatic · Question from the ATI RN Medical-Surgical 2023 Proctored Exam study set

Correct answer: B. Daily weights

Why this is the answer

Daily weights (paired with abdominal girth measurements) are the most accurate, non-invasive way to track fluid accumulating in the abdomen from ascites — a sudden weight gain reflects fluid retention long before it's visually obvious. Skin turgor (A) assesses dehydration/fluid deficit, which is the opposite problem from fluid accumulation. Capillary refill (C) reflects peripheral perfusion, not overall fluid volume status. Lung sounds (D) matter for pulmonary fluid overload but aren't the most direct or accurate way to track abdominal ascites specifically.

The bigger concept

Whenever fluid volume excess is a concern — whether ascites, heart failure, or renal failure — daily weight is one of the most sensitive trending tools available, since even a liter of retained fluid shows up clearly on the scale before other signs appear.

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