A 17-year-old primigravida, who had an elective abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy in a local clinic, was transferred to our hospital in state of status epilepticus. During the last 2-hr period immediately prior to admission the patient had an unknown number of generalized convulsions together with intermittent episodes of vomiting. Despite the administration of anticonvulsants and sedatives her condition was one of wild agitated response to stimuli, alternating with deep coma. After a tentative diagnosis of dilutional hyponatremia, she was given hypertonic saline solutions in addition to anticonvulsant therapy. Fourteen hours after her seizure, the patient was awake, alert, and cheerful but totally amnescent about the previous period. This case of severe water intoxication associated with an infusion of oxytocin reported here may serve as a reminder of the potential hazards of a widely used procedure, and of the precautions which must be observed.
Adolescent ; Anticonvulsants ; Coma ; Diagnosis ; Dihydroergotamine ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Hyponatremia ; Oxytocin* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; Seizures* ; Status Epilepticus ; Vomiting ; Water Intoxication*