Which finding is another clinical manifestation of fluid volume excess in a client with heart failure?

Which finding is another clinical manifestation of fluid volume excess in a client with heart failure?

• A. Sunken eyeballs
• B. Hypotension
• C. Poor skin turgor
• D. Bounding pulse

Answer: (D)

In fluid volume excess from heart failure, the body retains more water and sodium, increasing circulating volume and preload. This extra volume makes the arteries fill more forcefully with each beat, producing a strong, full, bounding pulse. The pulse can feel rapid and forceful because the stroke volume and arterial pressure are higher, especially with widened pulse pressure. Signs like sunken eyeballs, poor skin turgor, or hypotension point to fluid deficit, not excess, so they don’t fit fluid volume overload. So a bounding pulse best reflects the hypervolemic state often seen in heart failure.

In fluid volume excess from heart failure, the body retains more water and sodium, increasing circulating volume and preload. This extra volume makes the arteries fill more forcefully with each beat, producing a strong, full, bounding pulse. The pulse can feel rapid and forceful because the stroke volume and arterial pressure are higher, especially with widened pulse pressure.

Signs like sunken eyeballs, poor skin turgor, or hypotension point to fluid deficit, not excess, so they don’t fit fluid volume overload. So a bounding pulse best reflects the hypervolemic state often seen in heart failure.