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Hypernatremia and Fluid Resuscitation: Staci Smith, DO
Hypernatremia and Fluid Resuscitation: Staci Smith, DO
Resuscitation
Staci Smith, DO
Hypernatremia
• serum sodium level >145 mEq/L
• hypertonic by definition
• usually due to loss of hypotonic fluid
– occasionally infusion of hypertonic fluid
• due to too little water, too much salt, or a combination
– typically due to water deficit plus restricted access to free
water
• approximately 1-4% of hospitalized patients
• tends to be at the extremes of age
Mortality Eye Opener
• mortality rate across all age groups is
approximately 45%.
• mortality rate in the geriatric age group is as
high as 79%
Hypernatremia
• sodium levels are tightly controlled
– by regulation of urine concentration
– production and regulation of the thirst response
• normally water intake and losses are matched
• to maintain salt homeostasis, the kidneys adjust urine
concentration to match salt intake and loss
• kidneys' normal response
– is excretion of a minimal amount of maximally concentrated
urine
Hypernatremia
• normal plasma osmolality (Posm )
– 275 to 290 mosmol/kg
• Na is the primary determinant of serum osmolarity
•number of solute particles in the solution
• mechanisms to return the Posm to normal
– sensed by receptor cells in the hypothalamus
•affect water intake via thirst
– water excretion via ADH
•increases water reabsorption in the collecting
tubules
ADH
ADH Mechanism of Action
Protection Mechanism
• major protection against the development of
hypernatremia
– is increased water intake
– initial rise in the plasma sodium concentration
stimulates thirst
•via the hypothalamic osmoreceptors
Hypernatremia
• usually occurs in infants or adults
– particularly the elderly
– impaired mental status
•may have an intact thirst mechanism but are unable to
ask for water
– increasing age is also associated with diminished
osmotic stimulation of thirst
•unknown mechanism
Hypernatremia
• myoclonic jerks
Work-up : Sodium levels
– more than 170 mEq/L usually indicates long-
term salt ingestion
– 50-170 mEq/L usually indicates dehydration
– chronicity typically has fewer neurologic
symptoms
Lab Work-up : Sodium levels
• order urine osmolality and sodium levels
• glucose level to ensure that osmotic diuresis has
not occurred
• CT or MRI head
• water deprivation test
• ADH stimulation
Hypernatremia Work -Up
• Head CT scan or MRI is
suggested in all patients
• Traction on dural bridging
veins and sinuses
• Leads to intracranial
hemorrhage
– most often in the subdural
space
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Treatment
• Replace free water deficit
– IVF
– TPN / tube feeds
• Rapid correction of extracellular hypertonicity
– passive movement of water molecules into the
relatively hypertonic intracellular space
– causes cellular swelling, damage and ultimate death
Treatment
• First, estimate TBW (Total Body Water)
– TBW= .60 x IBW x 0.85 if female & 0.85 if elderly
•IBW for women= 100 lbs for the first 5 feet and 5lbs for
each additional inch
•IBW men= 110 lbs for the first 5 feet and 5 lbs for each
additional inch
•Our pt IBW= 120 (5 ft , 4’’)
•TBW= 52.0
– = .60 x 120 x 0.85. 0.85
General Treatment
• Next, calculate the free water deficit
• Free water deficit= TBW x (serum Na -
140/140)
• Our Pt’s FWD= 52 x (154-140/140)
– = 52 x 0.1
– = 5.2 L free water deficit
Avoiding Complications: Cerebral Edema
• Acute hypernatremia
– occurring in a period of less than 48 hours
– can be corrected rapidly (1-2 mmol/L/h)
• Chronic hypernatremia
– rate not to exceed 0.5 mmol/L/h or a total of 10
mmol/d
– Change in conc of Na per 1L of infusate = conc of
Na in serum- conc of Na in infusate / TBW + 1
Common Na Contents
5% dextrose in water 0 mEq Na
(D5W)
0.2% sodium chloride in 34 mmol/L
5% dextrose in water
(D5 1/4 NS)
0.9 NS 154 mmol/L
0.45NS 77 mmol/L
• Harrison’s Internal
Medicine
• E-medicine
• http://www.mdcalc.co
m/bicarbdeficit.php