Document Detail


Evaluation of serum and whole blood sodium critical values.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17145633     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Laboratories are required to have a critical values policy as a patient safety measure. Serum sodium commonly is included in critical results lists, but a wide range of values are used. We studied all critical serum and whole blood sodium results called to clinicians during a 6-month period. Patients' electronic medical records were reviewed for clinical responses and patient outcomes. Of the 111,545 sodium results occurring during the study, 615 (0.6%) were critical. By using criteria of 120 mEq/L (120 mmol/L) or less and 155 mEq/L (155 mmol/L) or more, we found 166 critically low results and 447 critically high results. In hypernatremic and hyponatremic patients, the lengths of stay were increased above our average, and clinicians responded to more than 50% of results within 4 hours. The mortality rates of hyponatremic and hypernatremic inpatients were 19% and 48%, respectively. Disease severity as measured by length of stay and mortality indicated these critical limits should not be broadened.
Authors:
Joan H Howanitz; Peter J Howanitz
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Evaluation Studies; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of clinical pathology     Volume:  127     ISSN:  0002-9173     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Clin. Pathol.     Publication Date:  2007 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-12-05     Completed Date:  2007-02-05     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370470     Medline TA:  Am J Clin Pathol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  56-9     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Dept of Pathology, SUNY Downstate, New York, NY, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Clinical Chemistry Tests / standards*
Critical Illness
Humans
Hypernatremia / blood*,  mortality
Hyponatremia / blood*,  mortality
Infant
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Serum / chemistry
Sodium / blood*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
7440-23-5/Sodium

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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