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J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Aug;19(4):627-630. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.627.

Two Cases of Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome Developing after Cranial Vault Remodeling in Craniosynostosis Children

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. byeon@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Hyponatremia has been recognized as an important postoperative metabolic complication after central nervous system (CNS) operations in children. If not appropriately treated, the postoperative hyponatremia can cause several types of CNS and circulatory disorders such as cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure. The postoperative hyponatremia after CNS surgery has been considered as one of the underlying causes of the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). In some cases, however, the cerebral salt wasting (CSW) syndrome has been detected. CSW syndrome is far less well-known than SIADH and also different from SIADH in diagnosis and treatment. It causes an increase in urine output and urine sodium after a trauma of CNS and dehydration symptoms. The appropriate treatment of CSW syndrome is opposite the usual treatment of hyponatremia caused by SIADH. The latter is treated with fluid restriction because of the increased level of free water and its dilutional effect causing hyponatremia, whereas the former is treated with fluid and sodium resuscitation because of the unusual loss of high urinary sodium. Early diagnosis and treatment of CSW syndrome after CNS surgery are, therefore, essential. We made a diagnosis of CSW syndrome in two craniosynostosis children manifesting postoperative hyponatremia and supplied them an appropriate amount of water and sodium via intravenous route. The hyponatremia or natricuresis of the children improved and neurologic and circulatory sequelae could be prevented.

Keyword

Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome; Hyponatremia; Natriuresis; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Craniosynostoses; Postoperative Complication

MeSH Terms

Child, Preschool
Craniosynostoses/*surgery
Humans
*Hyponatremia/diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy/urine
Infant
Male
*Postoperative Complications
*Sodium/administration & dosage/urine
Syndrome
Water/administration & dosage
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