This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Vullo-Navich, K. Articles by Veglia, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vullo-Navich, K. Articles by Veglia, J. M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Comfort and incidence of abnormal serum sodium, Bun, creatinine and osmolality in dehydration of terminal illness

Fresenius Medical Care, Lexington, Massachusetts

Shirley Smith, RN, MSN

Maria Andrews, MS, RD, CNSD

Patient Support Services, VA Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Alan M. Levine, PhD

Military Family Institute, Marywood College, Scranton, Pennsylvania

James F. Tischler, MD

Rehabilitation & Geriatric Core, VA Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Jeanne M. Veglia, RN, MSEd

This prospective clinical study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of spontaneous food/fluid intake on serum sodium and comfort levels in a population of terminal patients (n = 31) receiving clysis or intravenous hydration. The median and mode of serum sodiums were within normal limits and 56 percent of the patients were eunatremic. There was no statistically significant difference in comfort scores between predehydration and dehydration phases, and 85 percent had an optimal comfort score. A statistically significant difference was found (p < 0.5) between mean daily comfort scores of those with normal sodiums versus those with abnormal sodiums; those with hypernatremia were lower but still in the top third comfort levels. Because the sodium was tested using a Chem7, we also were able to calculate the BUN, creatinine, and osmolality. These are presented and compared to other study results. The findings of this study reinforce the belief that fluid depletion in dying patients results in relatively benign symptoms, that serum sodium levels are not always altered with limited intake and that comfort levels can be maintained when the serum sodium is abnormal.

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 15, No. 2, 77-84 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/104990919801500205


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E Bryon, B D. de Casterle, and C Gastmans Nurses' attitudes towards artificial food or fluid administration in patients with dementia and in terminally ill patients: a review of the literature J. Med. Ethics, June 1, 2008; 34(6): 431 - 436. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Hurwitz, J. Duncan, and J. Wolfe Caring for the Child With Cancer at the Close of Life: "There Are People Who Make It, and I'm Hoping I'm One of Them" JAMA, November 3, 2004; 292(17): 2141 - 2149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrit Guidelines for the Use of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in Adult and Pediatric Patients JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, January 1, 2002; 26(1_suppl): 1SA - 138SA. [PDF]