Missing dialysis leads to fluid overload, causing:
Pulmonary edema, evident by crackles on auscultation
Dyspnea and chest discomfort
Bradycardia is less likely; patients more often present with tachycardia due to volume stress. Fever would suggest infection (not stated here), and hypotension can occur later, but hypertension is more common in early fluid overload.
[References:, NREMT Medical Emergencies – Renal and Dialysis Patients, National Kidney Foundation Guidelines – Missed Dialysis and Pulmonary Symptoms, AAOS EMT Textbook – Urologic and Fluid Volume Imbalance, , ]
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