Chemotherapy is a treatment in which chemicals are introduced to the body to combat a disease, most often cancer. Common side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, which may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances and dehydration.
When making an assessment of a patient receiving chemotherapy, you may also see other signs of fluid loss such as decreased urine output (less than 40 ml/hour), low blood pressure, and a low serum potassium level. To combat these side effects, patients are encouraged to increase their liquid intake as much as possible.
Chemotherapy commonly causes nausea and vomiting, which may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Signs of fluid loss include dry oral mucous membranes, cracked lips, decreased urine output (less than 40 ml/hour), abnormally low blood pressure, and a serum potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L.