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HF and diabetes — SCE Endocrinology MCQ

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HardEndocrinologyHF and diabetesSCE Endocrinology

A patient with sodium 108 mmol/L has a generalised seizure attributed to hyponatraemia. What is the immediate hypertonic-saline prescription?

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Correct answer: E150 mL of 3% saline over 20 minutes with rapid reassessment

Seizure is a severe symptom requiring immediate 3% hypertonic saline in a monitored setting. Give 150 mL over 20 minutes, recheck sodium and symptoms, and repeat as needed toward an initial rise of about 5 mmol/L while preventing excessive 24-hour correction.

Reference: Society for Endocrinology emergency guidance for symptomatic hyponatraemia (Updated 2022): https://www.endocrinology.org/media/xhrhxhxm/emergency-management-of-severe-and-moderately-severely-symptomatic-hyponatraemia-in-adult-patients-2022.pdf; European clinical practice guideline for hyponatraemia (Published 2014): https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article/170/3/G1/6668028