Mild hypernatremia with moderate bilateral lower extremity edema (water retention). Do you force/restrict?

Question

fluids

Answer 1

restrict fluids

- sorry misread that & thought you said HYPOnatraemia

If they are hypernatraemic then they generally have total body water depletion. You would generally need to FORCE fluids.

Giving IV normal saline at a slow rate to correct the Na+ level by 0.5mEq per hour is the usual way. In mild cases, giving water (eg 2L orally over 6-12 hours) is usually sufficient.

Very rapid correction of hypernatraemia can lead to cerebral complications.

Answer 2

give fluids in conjunction with a diuretic