UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Hyponatremia and SAH

Category: Critical Care

Posted: 10/18/2011 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD (Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Mike Winters, MBA, MD

SAH and Electrolyte Disorders

  • Hyponatremia can be seen in up to 40% of patients with a SAH.
  • Most often, hyponatremia in patients with an SAH is due to SIADH or the cerebral salt wasting syndrome.
  • To date, hyponatremia has not been associated with poor outcome.
  • Treatment should focus on the underlying cause and often includes volume replacement with isotonic crystalloids (0.9% NaCl).

References

Wartenberg KE. Critical care of poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage. Curr Opin Crit Care 2011; 17:85-93