The purpose of this course is to make healthcare professionals understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hyponatremia. While hyponatremia is possibly the most common electrolyte disturbance in a general hospital population (up to 22 percent in some settings), the incidence by no means indicates that the condition is benign. Mortality rates as high as 17.9 percent have been quoted, but rates this extreme usually occur in the context of critically ill hospitalized patients. Although most cases are mild, hyponatremia is important clinically because:
-
Acute severe hyponatremia can be a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality
-
Mild hyponatremia can progress to more dangerous levels during management of other disorders
-
General mortality from all causes appears to be higher in patients with coexisting hyponatremia
-
Overly rapid correction of hyponatremia can produce severe neurological deficits and death.
-
Because the treatment of hyponatremia differs according to the cause, a logical and efficient approach to the evaluation and management of patients with hyponatremia is imperative.
Objectives:
-
Review the pathophysiology of hyponatremia
-
Review the common causes of hyponatremia
-
Review several diagnostic approaches to elucidate etiologies of hyponatremia
-
Demonstrate understanding diagnostic approaches based on level of understanding
-
Review treatment options for hyponatremia based on etiology
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration Lifetime access
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 0
- Assessments Yes
