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Hyponatremia

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  • • Low serum sodium

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Epidemiology

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  • • Postoperative patients

    • Premenopuasal women post surgery

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Symptoms and Signs

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

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Laboratory Findings

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  • • Low serum sodium

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  • • Must determine intravascular volume status to guide resuscitation

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  • • Serum electrolytes

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  • • Sodium replacement

    • Hypertonic sodium when severe

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

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Treatment Monitoring

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  • • Serum electrolytes

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Complications

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  • • Permanent brain damage

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Prognosis

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  • • Excellent

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Prevention

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  • • Judicious IV administration

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References

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

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