Abstract
Objective: To report the case of a patient who developed extrapontine myelinolysis secondary to hypernatremia. Case Detail: Adult patient presented with unilateral headache, muscle weakness, and progressive choking. After an episode of large amount of bronchoaspiration, she required orotracheal intubation. At the hospital, serum sodium of 180 mEq/L was detected at the entrance, which was corrected over 7 days until normalization. The clinical picture of initial tetraparesis was improved as sodium levels normalized and a control magnetic resonance showed complete regression of the lesions. Currently in outpatient follow-up with few sequelae after the incident. Final considerations: Osmotic demyelination syndromes may have different presentations according to the affected brain location. It is not possible to predict the outcome, which may be totally favorable or catastrophic. More attention needs to be paid on correcting hydroelectrolytic disorders, as prevention is still the best alternative for these patients.