Hyponatraemia in palliative care regarding a case report

Hyponatremia is a very common abnormality in palliative care which can cause a sudden decline in the patient's general condition. The diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are based on the patient's symptoms and life-expectancy. The inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions result in an unnecessary burden, while the adequate treatment could improve the quality of life. In palliative care, acute hyponatremia is very rare, the chronic form without any symptoms or mild complaints is more common. Asymptomatic patients should be observed. In patients with mild symptoms and months or years plus prognosis contributing factors should be discontinued. The electrolyte abnormality of patients with moderate or severe symptoms and at least weeks prognosis should be treated. Patients with day prognosis needs no treatment. This case report of an early palliative care patient with moderate symptoms caused by chronic, severe hyponatremia aims to give a suggestion for the management of the most common electrolyte abnormality in everyday palliative care.