A patient weighed 210 pounds on admission and after two days of diuretic therapy weighs 205 pounds. Which value best represents the liters of fluid excreted?

A patient weighed 210 pounds on admission and after two days of diuretic therapy weighs 205 pounds. Which value best represents the liters of fluid excreted?

• A. 1 L
• B. 2 L
• C. 3 L
• D. 0.5 L

Answer: (B)

Fluid balance is often estimated from weight changes, since body fluid contributes to weight. A practical rule is that 1 liter of fluid weighs about 2.2 pounds. Here, weight drops from 210 to 205 pounds, a loss of 5 pounds over two days. If most of that loss is fluid, 5 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds per liter ≈ 2.3 liters of fluid excreted. The closest value is about 2 liters. So the best answer reflects roughly 2 liters of fluid removed. A smaller amount (about 1 liter) would undercount the loss, while a larger amount (about 3 liters) would imply a bigger weight change than observed, and a very small amount (0.5 liter) would understate it even more.

Fluid balance is often estimated from weight changes, since body fluid contributes to weight. A practical rule is that 1 liter of fluid weighs about 2.2 pounds. Here, weight drops from 210 to 205 pounds, a loss of 5 pounds over two days. If most of that loss is fluid, 5 pounds ÷ 2.2 pounds per liter ≈ 2.3 liters of fluid excreted. The closest value is about 2 liters.

So the best answer reflects roughly 2 liters of fluid removed. A smaller amount (about 1 liter) would undercount the loss, while a larger amount (about 3 liters) would imply a bigger weight change than observed, and a very small amount (0.5 liter) would understate it even more.