Incidence and pathophysiology of severe hyponatraemia in neurosurgical patients

Background:Hyponatraemia is a well-recognised complication of neurosurgical conditions, but the incidence and implications have not been well documented.Objective:To define the incidence, pathophysiology and clinical implications of significant hyponatraemia in several neurosurgical conditions.Methods:All patients admitted to the Irish National Neurosciences Centre at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin with traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracranial neoplasm, pituitary disorders and spinal disorders who developed significant hyponatraemia (plasma sodium