Israel journal of medical sciences
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A prospective study among unselected patients hospitalized in an internal medicine ward showed that 46 patients, 6.9% of total admissions, had serum concentrations of sodium less than 132 mEq/l. In 28.3% of hyponatremic patients (n = 13), the cause was the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion; 21.7% of the cases (n = 10) developed hyponatremia during hospitalization, mainly because of hypotonic solution administration. ⋯ In our opinion, the high mortality reflects the severity of the underlying diseases, although 82.5% of the patients were asymptomatic or had mild neurological signs. There was no significant correlation between the degree of hyponatremia and neurological signs, or mortality.
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In rescue operations for people trapped under fallen debris, i.v. replenishment of the massive internal fluid volume losses should be started as soon as physical contact has been established with the injured person. This should be followed by induced alkaline-mannitol diuresis. ⋯ Local treatment of the crushed limbs should be conservative. A closed injury should not be converted into an open one unless distal arterial perfusion has been compromised.