Water intoxication and symptomatic hyponatremia after outpatient surgery.
Severe hyponatremia is associated with a mortality rate of more than 50%, primarily from cerebral edema and central nervous system dysfunction. Water intoxication is an unusual but potentially lethal cause of perioperative hyponatremia. We report a patient with severe postoperative hyponatremia resulting from excessive perioperative water consumption. Anesthesiologists should maintain an index of suspicion for hyponatremia from water intoxication in patients with neurologic symptoms during the perioperative period. Routine preoperative instructions regarding maximum perioperative water intake and inquiry into any concurrent alternative medical therapies may help to avoid this preventable complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Water intoxication is an unusual but potentially lethal cause of perioperative hyponatremia. We report a patient with severe postoperative hyponatremia resulting from excess perioperative water consumption.
Bhananker
Sanjay M
SM
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA. sbhanank@u.washington.edu
Paek
Robert
R
Vavilala
Monica S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000209:etiology*