Sodium-reduced continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) for the prevention of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) in hyponatremic patients scheduled for orthotopic liver transplantation

Two patients in end-stage hepatic failure presented for orthotopic liver transplantation with longstanding severe hyponatremia (121 and 122 mmol/L). Both patients underwent liver transplantation with the concomitant use of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Replacement and dialysate solutions were prepared individually to contain a sodium level that was individually considered safe with regard to the development of central pontine myelinolysis. The sodium increase in both patients was within the expected and planned limits despite a situation of mass transfusion. Both patients did well postoperatively and neither patient suffered neurological deficits.