A 34-Year-Old Male Client Has Diagnoses of Liver Failure, Ascites

Multiple Choice

A 34-year-old male client has diagnoses of liver failure, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy secondary to alcohol abuse. The client's family is questioning the care team as to why his abdomen is so large even though he is undernourished and emaciated. Which of the following statements most accurately underlies the explanation that a member of the care team would provide the family?

A) An inordinate amount of interstitial fluid is accumulating his abdomen.
B) The transcellular component of the intracellular fluid compartment contains far more fluid than normal.
C) Normally small transcellular fluid compartment, or third space, is becoming enlarged.
D) Gravity-dependent plasma is accumulating in his peritoneal cavity.