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