A patient is admitted to the hospital and given intravenous (IV) fluids. Four hours later, the patient complains that his mouth and eyes feel dry. You notice that he displays signs of dehydration, and when you check his IV, you see that he was given the wrong kind of fluids. Were these fluids likely hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic? Explain.

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together which of the following may result from introducing a hypotonic solution to a patient. Is it answer choice. A osmotic diuresis. Answer choice B, decreased hydration. Answer choice C increased blood volume or answer choice D cellular edema. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices describes what would result from introducing a hypotonic solution to a patient. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what a hypotonic solution is and how it would affect a patient if we introduced them to a hypotonic solution. And we know that a hypotonic solution is a solution that has a lower so lute concentration, then the solute concentration inside of the body. So in this case, the hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration than the solute concentration within the patient. And as a result of introducing this lower salute concentration solution to a patient, water enters the cells of the patient in order to balance that salute concentration. And since water enters the cells to balance that concentration, it results in cellular edema or swelling. Since water fills the cells to balance the solute concentration resulting in swelling or edema of the cells. So, answer choice, D cellular edema is the correct answer and answer choices A B and C are all incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.