Investigation and management of serum sodium after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SaSH): a survey of practice in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

Figures & data

Figure 1. Heat map of reported investigation and management strategies for hyponatraemia after SAH. Respondents consistently reported the use of a core set of investigations used in patients with SAH. Management strategies were less consistent. Each row represents one neurosurgical unit. Blank boxes represent no response to this question. * Denotes consensus responses from units with >1 respondent. Units reporting protocols are displayed separate from those with no protocol.

Table 1. Monitoring and threshold for investigation of hyponatraemia.

	Total (n = 31)	Protocol (n = 8)	No protocol (n = 23)
Serum sodium monitoring frequency
No known hyponatraemia
Daily	22 (71%)	6 (75%)	16 (70%)
Once every two days	9 (29%)	2 (25%)	7 (30%)
Hyponatraemia
More than once daily	10 (32%)	2 (25%)	8 (35%)
Daily	21 (68%)	6 (75%)	15 (65%)
Thresholds for investigation (cumulative)
130–135 mmol/L for 1 day	11 (35%)	3 (38%)	8 (35%)
130–135 mmol/L for 2–3 days	22 (71%)	6 (75%)	16 (70%)
130–135 mmol/L for ≥4 days	25 (81%)	8 (100%)	17 (74%)
<130 mmol/L for 1 day	30 (97%)	8 (100%)	22 (96%)
<130 mmol/L for >1 day	31 (100%)	8 (100%)	23 (100%)

Usual frequencies of sodium monitoring for patient who are not known to have hyponatraemia and those who have hyponatraemia after SAH. Threshold for investigation indicates which sodium parameter and durations would trigger investigation.