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| | THE MERCK MANUAL, Sec. 2, Ch. 12, Water, Electrolyte, Mineral, And Acid-Base Metabolism |
 | | Hypernatremia is less common than hyponatremia, occurring in < 1% of hospitalized patients in an acute care hospital; however, hypernatremia in the adult patient is among the most serious electrolyte disorders, with a reported mortality of 40 to 60%. |
 | | Hypernatremia in the elderly is particularly common in postoperative patients and in those receiving tube feedings, parenteral nutrition, or other hypertonic solutions. |
 | | Mortality of hypernatremia in general remains high because of effects of CNS hyperosmolality and the severity of underlying illness necessary to result in inability to respond to thirst. |
| www.merck.com /mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12b.jsp (7520 words) |
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