Question

A 93 year old female is Transported to the emergency department from her nursing home because of dangerously low blood pressure. She's bedridden because of advanced dementia from Alzheimer's disease. She is no longer verbal. The nurses notes from the nursing home say she has had severe diarrhea for several days it is not taking in much fluid or food orally. Her blood pressure is very low at 80/55, with normal being about 120/80. Her serum (blood) sodium is high at 160, with a normal being about 140. Do you expect her blood osmolality to be high, low, or normal? Why is her serum sodium high? What kind of IV solution would you give her and why?

Name: a 93 year old female is transported to the emergency department from her nursing home because of dangerously low blood pressure shes bedridden because of advanced dementia from alzheimers di 10447
Uploaded: 2023-10-25T18:53:29-08:00
Duration: 2 min 59 s
Channel: Jil Modi
Description: a 93 year old female is transported to the emergency department from her nursing home because of dangerously low blood pressure shes bedridden because of advanced dementia from alzheimers di 10447

          A 93 year old female is Transported to the emergency department from her nursing home because of dangerously low blood pressure. She's bedridden because of advanced dementia from Alzheimer's disease. She is no longer verbal. The nurses notes from the nursing home say she has had severe diarrhea for several days it is not taking in much fluid or food orally. Her blood pressure is very low at 80/55, with normal being about 120/80. Her serum (blood) sodium is high at 160, with a normal being about 140. Do you expect her blood osmolality to be high, low, or normal? Why is her serum sodium high? What kind of IV solution would you give her and why?

Added by Jacob R.

Biology for AP Courses

Julianne Zedalis, John Eggebrecht

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Jil Modi

10/25/2023

Step 1

Blood Osmolality: Given the high serum sodium level, we would expect her blood osmolality to be high. Osmolality is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the blood, and sodium is a major solute. When sodium levels are high, it means there is a high Show more…

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A 93 year old female is Transported to the emergency department from her nursing home because of dangerously low blood pressure. She's bedridden because of advanced dementia from Alzheimer's disease. She is no longer verbal. The nurses notes from the nursing home say she has had severe diarrhea for several days it is not taking in much fluid or food orally. Her blood pressure is very low at 80/55, with normal being about 120/80. Her serum (blood) sodium is high at 160, with a normal being about 140. Do you expect her blood osmolality to be high, low, or normal? Why is her serum sodium high? What kind of IV solution would you give her and why?