A 55-year-old man with hypertension and nephrolithiasis was hospitalized for persistent lower extremity weakness from a thoracic spinal cord injury related to a fall. His blood pressure was 160/80 mm Hg, and his heart rate was 94 beats/min. Findings on electrocardiography were unremarkable.
Laboratory results Potassium Hospital day 1: 4.2 mmol/L Hospital day 33: 5.8 mmol/L Creatinine: 0.9 mg/dL Sodium: 140 mEq/L Arterial blood gas on room air Po2:65 mm Hg Pco2: 40 mm Hg Bicarbonate: 24 mEq/L pH:7.40 Current medications Amlodipine: 5 mg/d Ibuprofen: 200 mg as needed (last dose 3 days ago) Heparin: 5000 U subcutaneously twice daily *This patient case is from the Docplexus Editorial Team for educative purposes only.
