Sodium disorders

Abstract

Dysnatremias are the most common electrolyte disorders, especially in critically ill and surgical patients. Brief notions of pathophysiology focused on the mechanisms and regulation of intracellular volume are needed to analyze dysnatremias. Such disorders may induce severe organ dysfunctions, especially cerebral dysfunction, and cause death. The practical diagnosis and therapeutic approach of hyponatremias and hypernatremias must follow safety rules of management to prevent iatrogenic complications. Because this book is dedicated to critically ill situations, we will focus essentially on acute and severe dysnatremias, especially for the treatment.