Question

Where would fluid accumulate in a patient due to the increased level of hydrostatic pressure caused by left ventricular failure?

Jugular veins
Pulmonary interstitial spaces
Kidneys
Hepatic portal veins

Answer 1

In a patient with left ventricular failure, fluid would accumulate primarily in the **pulmonary interstitial spaces**.

Left ventricular failure leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation because the left ventricle is unable to effectively pump blood, resulting in backpressure. This causes fluid to leak from the pulmonary capillaries into the interstitial spaces of the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion and edema.

While fluid could also accumulate in other areas over time, such as in the jugular veins (due to systemic venous congestion) or in the liver (due to congestion in the hepatic circulation), the most immediate and significant accumulation due to increased hydrostatic pressure from left ventricular failure is in the pulmonary interstitial spaces.