RECOGNIZING ANASARCA IN THE CLINICAL SETTING

Dear nurses,

Updated 3/24

The Clinical Setting Step by Step is no longer 
available. 

Anasarca (generalised edema)may have numerous causes. 
Low albumin (hypoalbuminemia), burns, heart problems, 

kidney and liver failure are some of the causes. 

Serous fluid seeps into the tissues and accumulates. 

There is usually an increase in the patient's weight.
The edema may be pitting or non-pitting. In pitting edema,
 if the finger is pressed into the skin, a depression is left. 

The stretching of the skin, results in skin breakdown.

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