What complication could arise from correcting hypernatremia too quickly?

When hypernatremia, which is an elevated sodium level in the blood, is corrected too rapidly, a significant risk emerges: cerebral edema. This condition occurs because the brain, having adapted to the high sodium levels, undergoes osmotic changes. When sodium levels are rapidly lowered (especially with hypotonic fluids), water moves back into brain cells to equilibrate osmotic pressure, leading to cellular swelling and potentially causing increased intracranial pressure.

Cerebral edema can result in severe neurological complications, including altered mental status, seizures, or even herniation if not appropriately managed. This emphasizes the importance of gradual correction of hypernatremia, typically aiming for a rate of correction no greater than 0.5 mEq/L per hour in order to minimize these risks.

Monitoring and adjusting treatment in hypernatremic patients is crucial, reinforcing that while correcting electrolyte imbalances is critical for patient safety, doing so too swiftly can lead to serious, and potentially life-threatening, complications such as cerebral edema.