Inferior vena cava point of care ultrasound: new perspectives in management of hyponatraemia

P Pasquero,M Porta,Av Taulaigo,S Albani,P Berchialla,L Borio,E Sitia

doi:10.1186/2036-7902-6-s2-a9

Abstract

Background Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in clinical practice, affecting 4% of patients presenting to the Emergency Department and up to 30% of patients in general medicine wards. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, therefore requiring prompt management. Current approach in defining aetiology of hypotonic hyponatraemia is based on extracellular fluid volume evaluation, which is potentially difficult, because of lack of highly sensible and specific clinical or laboratory tools. Evaluation of caval index through inferior vena cava point of care ultrasound could be helpful in defining intravascular volume status, as assessed in several conditions.

Highlights

BackgroundHyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in clinical practice, affecting 4% of patients presenting to the Emergency Department and up to 30% of patients in general medicine wards
Patients and methods Caval index was measured in 52 healthy blood donors and 21 normovolemic patients to define a normality range
Caval index was measured in 16 patients affected by hypotonic hyponatraemia before starting any correction, hypervolemic patients were excluded

Summary

Background

Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in clinical practice, affecting 4% of patients presenting to the Emergency Department and up to 30% of patients in general medicine wards. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, requiring prompt management. Current approach in defining aetiology of hypotonic hyponatraemia is based on extracellular fluid volume evaluation, which is potentially difficult, because of lack of highly sensible and specific clinical or laboratory tools. Evaluation of caval index through inferior vena cava point of care ultrasound could be helpful in defining intravascular volume status, as assessed in several conditions

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusion