Sacral Oedema
July 1st, 2020
Overview
In patients with fluid overload, lying down for an extended period, fluid may migrate from the legs to the sacral region - therefore it is important to assess this area for oedema.
How to Elicit
- Palpate the lower back, assessing for the presence of oedema.
Causes of Sacral Oedema
- Fluid overload - excessive IV fluids, renal failure, heart failure
- Right ventricular failure
- Hypoalbuminaemia - malnutrition, malabsorption, nephrotic syndrome, liver (synthetic) failure
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