Compensation recovered for overcorrection of sodium leading to brain injury

The claimant had a history of alcohol dependency. She attended the emergency department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich (Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust) with painful feet. Her blood results showed hypokalaemia (low potassium). Despite this, she was discharged.

She saw her GP who diagnosed planter fasciitis and was later seen by the musculoskeletal service who expressed concerns in relation to her mental state and extreme fatigue.

She became more unwell with symptoms of confusion and coughing up blood and attended A&E again. Venous blood gas tests showed severe hypokalaemia and hyponatremia (low sodium). However, there was a delay of 9 hours in the low sodium result being confirmed by the pathology lab and a further 3 hour delay before she was referred to the medical team.

Sodium replacement was commenced in the emergency department but there was a rapid overcorrection of sodium with the claimant receiving 2.5 litres of fluid within 15 hours.

The claimant was eventually admitted but unfortunately suffered a respiratory arrest. She was intubated and transferred to intensive care. She was quadriplegic and in a locked in state and required ventilation, tracheostomy and PEG feeding.

An MRI scan confirmed central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), a brain injury caused by the rapid overcorrection of hyponatraemia.

The claimant required prolonged neurorehabilitation but made a reasonable physical recovery. Her left elbow was left in  fused position, a condition called heterotopic ossification and required surgery.

The claimant also suffered PTSD as a result of her traumatic experience in the intensive care unit. For a long period she was only able to communicate with her eyes and this was particularly psychologically toxic due to additional stresses associated with the Covid pandemic.

The defendant admitted liability and the case settled without the need to issue court proceedings. The claimant recovered damages for her pain and suffering and to allow her to obtain private psychological treatment.

Jenny Hawkes specialises in clinical negligence cases.  If you would like to ask Jenny a question about a potential case, or if you have a general query about any personal injury, contact her at Thomson Snell & Passmore solicitors on 01892 701374 in confidence. We offer no win no fee agreements for the vast majority of our clinical negligence and personal injury cases.