Which risk factor is significant for the development of prerenal acute kidney injury?

Choice A reason: Blood flow is diverted from the abdominal muscles to the liver due to increased intravascular pressure is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the distribution of blood in the body, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Intravascular pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels, which can be affected by various factors, such as blood volume, cardiac output, or vascular resistance. Increased intravascular pressure can cause blood flow to be diverted from the peripheral areas, such as the abdominal muscles, to the central areas, such as the liver, which can result in symptoms such as portal hypertension, which is a high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver.

Choice B reason: Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels promotes movement of sodium into the peritoneum is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the diameter of the blood vessels in the abdomen, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Vasodilation is the widening of the blood vessels, which can be caused by various factors, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins, or histamine. Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels, which are the blood vessels that supply the intestines, can increase the blood flow and the permeability of the capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels, allowing sodium and water to move from the blood to the peritoneum, which is the membrane that covers the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. However, this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the amount of sodium and water that moves through the capillaries is normally balanced by the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels that drains the excess fluid and returns it to the blood.

Choice C reason: Fluid moves from the intravascular space to the interstitial space due to decreased serum albumin levels is the best description because it is a condition that affects the osmotic pressure of the blood, which is the main mechanism for ascites development in this client. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by the solutes, such as proteins, in a solution, which determines the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, such as the capillary wall. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood, which is produced by the liver and helps to maintain the osmotic pressure of the blood. Decreased serum albumin levels can be caused by various factors, such as liver failure, malnutrition, or inflammation. Decreased serum albumin levels can reduce the osmotic pressure of the blood, which means that the blood cannot retain enough water, causing fluid to move from the intravascular space, which is the space within the blood vessels, to the interstitial space, which is the space between the cells and the blood vessels. This can result in edema, which is the swelling of the tissues due to fluid accumulation, especially in the abdomen, which is called ascites.

Choice D reason: The liver metabolizes increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the hormonal regulation of water and sodium balance, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone are hormones that help the kidneys retain water and sodium, respectively, and regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland, while aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands. The liver is involved in the metabolism and clearance of these hormones, which means that it breaks them down and removes them from the blood. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can be caused by various factors, such as dehydration, heart failure, or renal failure. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can cause the kidneys to reabsorb more water and sodium, which can increase the blood volume and the blood pressure, but this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen is not from the kidneys, but from the capillaries.

Choice A reason: "I was short of breath when I walked around the block yesterday." is not the most significant statement because it is a common symptom of chronic bronchitis, but it does not indicate the severity or the progression of the condition. Shortness of breath is caused by the inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which reduce the airflow and oxygen delivery to the lungs.

Choice B reason: "I have a loose sounding cough every day when I get up in the morning." is the most significant statement because it indicates the presence of excessive mucus production, which is a hallmark of chronic bronchitis. Mucus traps bacteria and other irritants, which can lead to infections and further inflammation of the airways. A chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts for at least three months in two consecutive years.

Choice C reason: "My respiratory secretions are greenish-yellow colored today." is not the most significant statement because it is a sign of a possible infection, but it does not necessarily indicate chronic bronchitis. Greenish-yellow colored sputum can be caused by various respiratory conditions, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, or cystic fibrosis.

Choice D reason: "My feet are swollen and painful at the end of the afternoon." is not the most significant statement because it is a sign of a possible complication of chronic bronchitis, but it does not directly relate to the condition. Swollen and painful feet can be caused by right-sided heart failure, which can result from chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis can increase the pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which can strain the right ventricle and cause it to fail. This can lead to fluid retention and edema in the lower extremities.