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Cases

Thirsty, confused, constipated

A 67-year-old's family bring her in because she has stopped making sense and cannot stop drinking water.

67-year-old womanED, bay 7Fictitious educational patient
Heavy smoker, 45 pack-yearsThree months of back painRecent weight loss

Day 0 · 14:20

Arrival

Her daughter does the talking: two weeks of drinking 'jugs' of water, passing urine constantly, worsening constipation, and for the last three days a muddled, sleepy version of her mother. Background of long smoking history, back pain her GP has been treating as mechanical, and a stone of weight lost since spring.

Vitals

HR104BP108/66RR16SpO296%T36.5

Polyuria, polydipsia, confusion, constipation. Which two bedside-available tests sort this presentation fastest?

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