A consequence of pancreatitis-associated third-spacing is

• A. Intravascular volume depletion
• B. Increased plasma volume
• C. Edema of the spleen
• D. Fluid overload

Answer: (A)

Pancreatitis often triggers an inflammatory response that makes capillaries leak. Fluid shifts from the blood into the abdomen and other third-space sites, so the circulating plasma volume decreases. This intravascular volume depletion means less blood volume available to circulate, which can cause low blood pressure, faster heart rate, and reduced urine output. The total body water may be redistributed into interstitial spaces, but the immediate consequence in the bloodstream is a drop in plasma volume.

Increased plasma volume would contradict the watery shift out of vessels. Edema of the spleen isn’t a typical direct consequence of pancreatitis-related third-spacing, and fluid overload would imply too much fluid in the circulating compartments, which isn’t what happens here—the fluid is moving out of the vessels into third spaces.