A client has had an exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis with cramping and diarrhea persisting longer than 1 week. The nurse should assess the client for which complication?

A. heart failure: While severe fluid loss and electrolyte imbalances can increase cardiac workload, heart failure is not a common direct complication of ulcerative colitis exacerbations. The primary concerns are related to volume depletion, electrolyte disturbances, and systemic inflammation rather than chronic cardiac dysfunction in the acute phase. B. hypokalemia: Persistent diarrhea associated with ulcerative colitis results in significant loss of potassium through the stool. Hypokalemia can lead to muscle weakness, cardiac dysrhythmias, and decreased gastrointestinal motility. Monitoring serum potassium and initiating replacement therapy as needed are critical during prolonged diarrheal episodes. C. deep vein thrombosis: Inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk of hypercoagulability, which can contribute to deep vein thrombosis. However, this is less immediate than electrolyte disturbances during an acute flare. DVT assessment is important but is not the first priority when evaluating a client with ongoing diarrhea. D. hypocalcemia: Although malabsorption can eventually lead to calcium deficits, acute ulcerative colitis exacerbations rarely cause immediate hypocalcemia. Calcium loss is not directly linked to short-term diarrhea, making hypocalcemia a less likely acute complication.