A patient with dehydration develops hypernatremia with serum Na 155 mEq/L. What is the recommended correction strategy to avoid cerebral edema?

A patient with dehydration develops hypernatremia with serum Na 155 mEq/L. What is the recommended correction strategy to avoid cerebral edema?

• A. Correct rapidly with hypotonic solutions to normalize Na quickly.
• B. Correct slowly, reducing Na by no more than 10-12 mEq/L per 24 hours (roughly 0.5 mEq/L per hour).
• C. Correct by immediate normalization to 140 mEq/L within 6 hours.
• D. Do not correct Na; monitor and wait.

Answer: (B)