A patient diagnosed with heart failure has 3+ lower extremity edema. Which description most accurately describes this patient's edema?
1. slight pitting, no obvious distortion
2. deeper pit, no obvious distortion
3. pit is obvious, extremities are swollen
4. pit remains with obvious distortion
Correct Answer: 3
Edema is the accumulation of fluid in the body's tissues. It can be assessed by depressing the patient's skin. 1+ edema is slight pitting with no obvious distortion. 2+ edema is a deeper pit, but there is no obvious distortion. In 3+ edema, the pit is obvious, and the extremities are swollen. In 4+ edema, the pit remains, with obvious distortion.
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