A 50-year-old male is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. He does well after the administration of antibiotics, but his sodium is noted to rise from 140 to 154 mEq/L. Over 2 d... A 50-year-old male is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. He does well after the administration of antibiotics, but his sodium is noted to rise from 140 to 154 mEq/L. Over 2 days he reports thirst and has had a urine output of approximately 5 liters per day. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step to evaluate the patient's disorders?
Understand the Problem
The question is presenting a clinical scenario regarding a patient with pneumonia and changes in sodium levels and asks for the most appropriate next step to evaluate his condition. The user's goal is to identify the best diagnostic approach among the options provided.
Answer
Measurement of serum osmolality.
The most appropriate next step is measurement of serum osmolality.
Answer for screen readers
The most appropriate next step is measurement of serum osmolality.
More Information
Measuring serum osmolality can help differentiate between conditions like diabetes insipidus, which causes high urine output and increased serum sodium levels.
Tips
A common mistake is to skip initial tests like serum osmolality and go directly to more advanced tests or treatments.
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
