Water and electrolyte changes during transuretheral resection of the prostate under spinal anaesthesia

Systemic absorption of irrigating fluid during TUR prostatectomy under spinal anaesthesia was measured in 40 patients and correlations made under clinical, hemodynamic and laboratory observations. Results showed that the CVP monitoring is a helpful parameter in early detection of the hypervolemic hyponatremic syndrome. Serial determination of serum sodium level is important in detecting hyponatremia. Out of the 40 patients, one patient developed acute hypervolemic hyponatremic syndrome. The syndrome was detected early by the significant rise in CVP and the drop in serum sodium level and P.C.V. Intravenous infusion of 250 ml hypertonic saline slowly was followed by marked diuresis and uneventful recovery.