Comments on: 17 days at the VA – day 12

By: Snipergirl

Snipergirl — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:23:13 +0000

@Ram – you need to differentiate volume loss from water loss.. Pure water loss will cause hypernatraemia- as in people with diabetes insipidus or increased insensible losses or those unable to consume water. Whole volume loss (ie isotonic blood or plasma) as in diuresis, haemorrhage or most common forms of volume contraction on its own should not lead to any electrolyte disturbance. However they can lead to hypernatraemia, hyponatraemia or no sodium disturbance depending on whether there is extra water loss (eg patient unable to drink) or extra water retention (ADH activation in cirrhosis, heart failure, severe volume depletion wtih water intake etc).

By: ram

ram — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:19:03 +0000

I was expecting hypernatremia with volume contraction.
How volume contraction leads to hyponatremia?

By: Intern

Intern — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:50:14 +0000

I read your acid base posts very carefully and often I can't catch everything you say. This post was excellent because I was able to stay with you step by step to figure things out. Thank you for posting it and continue with your great work. All the best.