Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification (CNN) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Volume excess contributes to congestive heart failure during dialysis primarily by straining the heart's workload. In patients with compromised renal function, fluid is retained in the body, leading to an increase in total blood volume. This excess volume places additional stress on the heart as it has to work harder to pump the increased blood volume against elevated pressure in the vascular system. Consequently, this can lead to heart failure or exacerbate existing heart conditions, as the heart becomes overwhelmed and less effective at pumping blood.

Moreover, in the context of dialysis, it is vital to remove the accumulated excess fluid to alleviate this burden on the heart and support better overall heart function. Understanding this relationship is critical for managing patients on dialysis, as careful fluid management is essential to prevent complications related to volume overload and heart failure.