Hyponatremia

Question 1

What is hyponatremia?

Answer 1

Serum sodium less than 135 mEq/L
Most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients-caused by hypotonic fluids.
Usually reflects excess water retention relative to sodium rather than sodium deficiency.

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of hyponatremia?

Answer 2

Depends on severity and acuity

Mild symptoms are nausea and malaise

Moderate symptoms are headache, lethargy, and disorientation

Sever symptoms are respiratory arrest, seizure, coma, permanent brain damage, brain stem herniation, and death.

Question 3

How do you treat hyponatremia?

Answer 3

Restriction of free water and hypotonic fluid intake is the initial step in hyponatremia management
Free water intake should generally be less than 1-1.5L a day.

Question 4

What is the worst complication?

Answer 4

ODS osmotic demyelination syndrome