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Case Studies in Osmolality
Bibliography
Osmometry:
An overview of Osmometry including several case studies and an evaluation of the importance of stat osmometry in modern-day diagnostic medical applications. Robert Dufour, M.D.) See complete article in the Osmolality section, General Information.
Case A - Possible Toxin Ingestion
A 43-year-old white male with a history of depression and alcohol abuse
was found lethargic on the floor of his room by his family. He was brought
to the emergency room, where he was found to be confused; he became comatose
over the next hour.
Click here for complete
case study.
Case B - Evaluation of Hyponatremia
The supervisor in the stat laboratory noticed that the results on a patient
in the operating room had changed significantly since the previous evening,
as shown in the accompanying table.
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case study.
Case C - Evaluation of Hyponatremia
A 32-year-old male presented with a history of one episode of passing
blood in his stool. He had a history of alcohol abuse, and had been in
an automobile accident the previous year, injuring his head.
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case study.
Case D - Evaluation of Hyponatremia
The evening supervisor notes that a patient's serum sodium has failed
delta check alerts compared to the results from the previous week. She
had run the initial specimen on the Beckman CX-7, and repeated the test
on the Ektachem.
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case study.
Case E - Evaluation of Hyponatremia
A 74-year-old man was admitted in February with a stroke. After about
one month in the hospital, he developed shortness of breath and was found
to have pneumonia, which was resistant to treatment, raising the possibility
of an ongoing source.
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case study.
Case F - Evaluation of High Urine Output
A 54-year-old man is hospitalized on the psychiatry service for treatment
of manic-depressive disorder; he is currently receiving lithium carbonate
treatment. He states that he is always thirsty, and he has a daily urine
output of over 8 liters per day.
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case study.
Case G - Evaluation of High Urine Output
A 36-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse was admitted for evaluation
of seizures. On the evening following admission, he fell, hitting his
head. While the wound was being sutured, he became less responsive and
lapsed into a coma.
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case study.
Case H - Evaluation of Decreased Urine Output
A 35-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse was admitted with loss
of appetite and diarrhea; he also had a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Treatment
began with vancomycin because of a positive blood culture.
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case study.
Case I - Evaluation of Decreased Urine Output
A 74-year-old male with a history of insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension,
and a "cardiac problem" suffered a perforated bowel in late
January and underwent emergency surgery for repair; an ileostomy was created.
Click here for complete
case study.