Cor Vasa 2024, 66(5):534-538 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2024.057

A rare case of cardiac arrest caused by hyponatremia

Michal Kalina^a-c, Dominik Flak^d, Jan Beneš^{a, b, e}

^a Department of Anaesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Intensive Care, J. E. Purkyně University, Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, the Czech Republic

^b Charles University, Medical Faculty in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, the Czech Republic

^c Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Care, Děčín Hospital, Děčín, the Czech Republic

^d Department of Cardiology, J. E. Purkyně University, Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, the Czech Republic

^e Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Bulovka University Hospital, Prague, the Czech Republic

Hyponatremia, characterized by sodium levels below 135 mmol/l, is the most prevalent electrolyte disorder worldwide. It presents with a wide range of clinical symptoms, particularly in the neurological and gastrointestinal domains, occasionally leading to cardiac arrhythmias. In our specific case, severe hyponatremia resulting from potomania resulted in sinus bradycardia with alternating atrioventricular block and subsequent cardiac arrest. Restoration of sinus rhythm was achieved following correction of the sodium levels. However severe hyponatremia and long-lasting CPR resulted in brain oedema, which ultimately led to brain death. Per national regulations, the patient was enrolled in an organ donor program, resulting in successful organ transplants. This unique case underscores the critical role of sodium levels in cardiac electrophysiology and highlights the necessity of monitoring electrolyte levels in patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

Keywords: Beer potomania, Cardiac arrest, Hyponatremia

Received: May 8, 2024; Revised: September 9, 2024; Accepted: September 30, 2024; Prepublished online: June 2, 2012; Published: October 25, 2024  Show citation