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Hyponatremia

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  • • Low serum sodium

Epidemiology

  • • Postoperative patients

    • Premenopuasal women post surgery

Symptoms and Signs

  • • Mental obtundation (sodium < 120 mEq/L)

Laboratory Findings

  • • Low serum sodium

  • • Must determine intravascular volume status to guide resuscitation

  • • Serum electrolytes

  • • Sodium replacement

    • Hypertonic sodium when severe

    • Raise serum sodium no more than 1-2 mEq/L/h

Treatment Monitoring

  • • Serum electrolytes

Complications

  • • Permanent brain damage

Prognosis

  • • Excellent

Prevention

  • • Judicious IV administration

References

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Adrogue HJ et al. Hyponatremia. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:1581.  [PubMed: 10824078]

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