Patients with elevated sodium levels face higher mortality & longer hospital stays. New research published in the Journal of Independent Medicine quantifies the risk and points to prevention.
Thank you. As a Septic Shock survivor I am very grateful to Dr. Varon and Dr. Marik for their research in treatment. My husband was told by the ICU staff I didn’t just have one foot in the grave, but was completely in it. Going in I did not have sodium levels that were high. I’d given up drinking any alcohol a year and a half before and I cook nearly all our meals and we don’t eat processed food. I became Septic right after I had blood work and a routine physical and was told I was in great health. I had a groin hernia that ruptured and caused Necrotizing Fasciitis that went into Septic Shock. But I survived with no damage to my organs or limbs, although it’s taken me a year to get back to 50% of my normal self. I consider this pretty damn good considering how close to dying or losing my right leg I was. It may have been due to me not having high sodium levels in my blood when I went in. I don’t know but am now curious.
I was just about to comment on that, but y’all beat me to it. Hanging a bag of Normal Saline is almost ubiquitous. Perhaps it should be replaced by a bag of “Normal Potassium.”
I agree with IV normal saline in ED could be a contributing factor in escalating blood sodium. Also, medications including Remdesivir that excessively stress kidneys can factor in. With respiratory failure, the heart is compensating and the kidney/heart relationship is like husband/wife. If one of them isn’t happy, neither is the other. This is largely disregarded in Emergency rooms that are vigilant with cardiac protocols.
Is there any evidence or protocols that would include Potassium IV as a counter measure in reducing excess sodium levels? I found some research rather than reducing sodium intake for high blood pressure increase Potassium intake, that over time, will counter the effects and lower blood pressure. Being in an ICU setting this protocol could be monitored hourly if needed. I suspect the counter measures that reduce the overall effects of high sodium levels should be considered.
Thank you. As a Septic Shock survivor I am very grateful to Dr. Varon and Dr. Marik for their research in treatment. My husband was told by the ICU staff I didn’t just have one foot in the grave, but was completely in it. Going in I did not have sodium levels that were high. I’d given up drinking any alcohol a year and a half before and I cook nearly all our meals and we don’t eat processed food. I became Septic right after I had blood work and a routine physical and was told I was in great health. I had a groin hernia that ruptured and caused Necrotizing Fasciitis that went into Septic Shock. But I survived with no damage to my organs or limbs, although it’s taken me a year to get back to 50% of my normal self. I consider this pretty damn good considering how close to dying or losing my right leg I was. It may have been due to me not having high sodium levels in my blood when I went in. I don’t know but am now curious.
It seems fairly routine in the ER to place patients on a saline IV. What are your thoughts on this possibly being a contributing factor?
I was wondering the same thing.
I was just about to comment on that, but y’all beat me to it. Hanging a bag of Normal Saline is almost ubiquitous. Perhaps it should be replaced by a bag of “Normal Potassium.”
I agree with IV normal saline in ED could be a contributing factor in escalating blood sodium. Also, medications including Remdesivir that excessively stress kidneys can factor in. With respiratory failure, the heart is compensating and the kidney/heart relationship is like husband/wife. If one of them isn’t happy, neither is the other. This is largely disregarded in Emergency rooms that are vigilant with cardiac protocols.
Is there any evidence or protocols that would include Potassium IV as a counter measure in reducing excess sodium levels? I found some research rather than reducing sodium intake for high blood pressure increase Potassium intake, that over time, will counter the effects and lower blood pressure. Being in an ICU setting this protocol could be monitored hourly if needed. I suspect the counter measures that reduce the overall effects of high sodium levels should be considered.