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Research Article| Volume 7, ISSUE 1, P127-142, January 1991

The Management of Hyponatremic Emergencies

  • Richard H. Sterns
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to: Richard H. Sterns, MD, Nephrology Unit, Rochester General Hospital, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621
    Affiliations
    Associate Professor of Medicine and Physiology, Department of Medicine/Division of Nephrology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York
    Search for articles by this author
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0704(18)30327-0
The Management of Hyponatremic Emergencies
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      Both a rapid onset and rapid correction of hyponatremia can cause brain damage. Emergency treatment should be reserved for patients who present with seizures and coma, and patients who develop any neurologic symptoms while receiving intravenous fluids. In such cases, 3% saline solution should be given at 1 to 2 mL/kg/h, but after 2 to 3 hours, the rate of correction of hyponatremia can be slowed to avoid an increase of more than 12 mEq/L during the first day of therapy.
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      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0704(18)30327-0

      Copyright

      © 1991 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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