SEVERE HYPERCALCEMIA AND POLYURIA IN A NEAR-DROWNING VICTIM

A 73-year-old man was admitted because of near-drowning in a hot sprin gs bath. Transient severe hypercalcemia and polyuria were seen during the first hospital day. It seemed that the hypercalcemia was due to ac ute intoxication from calcium contained in the water of the spring abs orbed mainly through the alveoli. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acute hypercalcemia complicating a near-drowning in a hot spri ng. Analysis of serum and urine electrolytes during the polyuric phase revealed saline diuresis, which was probably due to interference by t he hypercalcemia of the reabsorption of sodium and free water.