Question

A postoperative patient with significant pain presents with hyponatremia and normal volume status. What could be the possible cause of hyponatremia in this patient?

1) Excessive fluid intake
2) Excessive sodium loss
3) Decreased fluid intake
4) Increased fluid loss

Answer 1

Hyponatremia in a patient with normal volume status may likely be due to excessive fluid intake, which dilutes the sodium concentration in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

The possible cause of hyponatremia in a postoperative patient with significant pain and normal volume status could be excessive fluid intake. Hyponatremia is characterized by a lower-than-normal concentration of sodium in the blood and is generally associated with excess water accumulation in the body, which dilutes the sodium levels. Causes may include not only excessive fluid intake but also conditions that lead to excessive sodium loss such as sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea, as well as the use of diuretics and certain disease states like diabetes or adrenal insufficiency.