A 64yo man has been waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. He also had
difficulty in initiating micturition and complains of dribbling. A dx of BPH was made after a
transrectal US guided biopsy and the pt was prepared for a TURP. What electrolyte abnormality
is highly likely due to this surgery?
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hyperkalemia
d. Hyponatremia
e. Hypernatremia
Q. 1. What is the key?
Q. 2. Why this happens?
Ans. 1. The key is D. Hyponatremia.
Ans. 2. Absorption of fluid used for bladder irrigation to flush out blood clots and IV fluids all may lead to
hypervolaemia and dilutional hyponatremia.