Serum Electrolyte Imbalances in Head Injury Patients: An Institutional Analysis

Traumatic brain injury is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in all age group of patients. Electrolyte imbalance is common in patients with traumatic brain injury patients. Aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of electrolyte disturbance in head injury patients. This is a prospective study carried out at RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Total 210 patients included in this study during 9 months period. We measured the serum level of sodium, potassium, and calcium and GCS score and CT reports of every patient daily and data collected in TBI proforma and analysed for the results. Abnormal sodium level was found in 39.03 % patients, abnormal potassium level was found in 31.80 % patients, and abnormal calcium level was found in 20 % patients. Hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia are more common than hypernatremia, hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia in head injury patients. Patients with severe head injury had abnormal sodium and potassium level as compared to mild and moderate head injury. Electrolyte disturbances should be measured at regular interval and meticulously treated in traumatic brain injury patients to increase the survival of patients.