Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2006 Jan;18(1):57-63.
doi: 10.1097/01.ana.0000191280.05170.0f.

Disturbances of sodium in critically ill adult neurologic patients: a clinical review

Martin Tisdall  1 , Matthew Crocker, Jonathan Watkiss, Martin Smith
Affiliations
Review

Disturbances of sodium in critically ill adult neurologic patients: a clinical review

Martin Tisdall et al. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2006 Jan.

Abstract

Disorders of sodium and water balance are common in critically ill adult neurologic patients. Normal aspects of sodium and water regulation are reviewed. The etiology of possible causes of sodium disturbance is discussed in both the general inpatient and the neurologic populations. Areas of importance are highlighted with regard to the differential diagnosis of sodium disturbance in neurologic patients, and management strategies are discussed. Specific discussions of the etiology, diagnosis, and management of cerebral salt wasting syndrome, the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and central diabetes insipidus are presented, as well as the problems of overtreatment. The importance of diagnosis at an early stage of these diseases is stressed, with a recommendation for conservative management of milder cases.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Algorithm for Assessment of the Hyponatremic Patient
Figure 2
Figure 2
Algorithm for Assessment of the Hypernatremic Patient
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Levin ER, Gardner DG, Samson WK. Natriuretic peptides. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:321–328. - PubMed
    1. Palmer BF. Hyponatremia in patients with central nervous system disease: SIADH versus CSW. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2003;14:182–187. - PubMed
    1. Rabinstein AA, Wijdicks EF. Hyponatremia in critically ill neurological patients. Neurologist. 2003;9:290–300. - PubMed
    1. Pollock AS, Arieff AI. Abnormalities of cell volume regulation and their functional consequences. Am J Physiol. 1980;239:F195–F205. - PubMed
    1. Arieff AI, Llach F, Massry SG. Neurological manifestations and morbidity of hyponatremia: correlation with brain water and electrolytes. Medicine (Baltimore) 1976;55:121–129. - PubMed