Hyponatremia Correction Infusate Rate Calculator
Helps correct hyponatremia based on clinical patient data such as serum Na.
You can read more about how the correction is calculated in the text below the form.
The hyponatremia correction infusate rate calculator determines the Na infusate rate and the change in serum sodium based on the following variables: patient weight, serum Na and its change per hour, water fraction, IV Na and IV K.
This is useful when Na deficit needs to be addressed, either just by restricting water intake or by IV Na.
The formulas used are:
Infusate Rate = (1000 x Serum Na Change Per Hr x ((Water Fract x Weight) + 1)) / (IV Na + IVK – Serum Na)
Serum Na Change Per Liter = (IV Na + IVK – Serum Na) / ((Water Fract x Weight) + 1)
Send Us Your Feedback
Steps on how to print your input & results:
1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.
2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.
Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.
Variables considered
In order to determine the infusate rate and the serum Na change per liter, the calculator uses the following variables:
■ Patient weight: to be input in either kg or lbs;
■ Serum Na change per hour: measured in mEq/L;
■ Serum Na: measured in mEq/L and based on laboratory results;
■ Water fraction: dependent on the type of patient for which the correction is calculated. The choice is between child, adult male, female or elderly male or female;
■ IV Na: the concentration of the intravenous Na solution. The choice is between : 5% NaCl, 3% NaCl, 0.9% NaCl or Ringer Lactate solution;
■ IV K: dosed in mEq/L in order to avoid hypokalemia that could exacerbate the Na deficit effect.
■ The measurement unit for the infusate rate: in either mL/hr, L/min, L/sec, mL/min or mL/sec.
Hyponatremia correction formula
The infusate rate formula is the following:
Infusate Rate = (1000 x Serum Na Change Per Hr x ((Water Fract x Weight) + 1)) / (IV Na + IVK – Serum Na)
The change in serum sodium is calculated via:
Serum Na Change Per Liter = (IV Na + IVK – Serum Na) / ((Water Fract x Weight) + 1)
Hyponatremia explained
Decreases in the concentration of serum Na below 136 mEq/L are considered as hyponatremia. Decreases below 125 mEq/L are indicative of severe hyponatremia.
Some of the most common causes of hyponatremia include: vomiting, diarrhea, diuretic use, heart failure, burns, pancreatitis and renal disease.
Congestive heart failure, liver or kidney failure are amongst the conditions associated with low serum Na.
There are three types of hyponatremia:
■ Hypovolemic (decrease in both body water and sodium);
■ Euvolemic (normal body sodium, high body water levels);
■ Hypervolemic (increase in both body water and sodium).
The classification by osmolality is between hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic.
Symptom severity varies from nausea and general malaise to lethargy and decreased consciousness.
Diagnosis is done by measuring serum Na. in order to near down the cause, analysis of serum and urine electrolytes and osmolality is necessary.
Hyponatremia treatment starts with water intake restriction, the replacement of the Na deficit and initiation of treatment addressing the underlying cause. The rhythm of correction is subject to risk of cerebral edema and brain damage and therefore needs to be closely monitored.
In simple cases, water restriction is enough to balance the serum sodium deficit. Where IV correction is required, the sodium rate should not exceed 8 mEq/L although the initial correction rate can start at 1-2 mEq/L/hr.
References
1. Adrogue, HJ, Madias, NE. Primary Care: Hyponatremia. New England Journal of Medicine 2000; 342(20):1493-1499.
2. M Biswa M, Davies JS. Hyponatraemia in clinical practice. Postgrad Med J. 2007; 83(980): 373–378.
Specialty: Endocrinology
System: Endocrine
Objective: Correction
Type: Calculator
No. Of Variables: 7
Article By: Denise Nedea
Published On: March 21, 2017 · 06:51 AM
Last Checked: March 21, 2017
Next Review: March 21, 2023