Predictive factors for delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery in patients with Rathke’s cleft cysts

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess factors influencing the occurrence of delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery in patients with Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCCs). METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for RCCs from January 2014 to January 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the factors influencing the occurrence of postoperative delayed hyponatremia. RESULTS: Of the 78 microscopic transsphenoidal surgery recipients with RCCs, 15 experienced postoperative delayed hyponatremia. There were 35 men and 43 women, and mean age was 43.75 ± 14.95 years. The clinical manifestations of RCCs were headache (62 cases, 79.5%), visual dysfunction (35 cases, 44.9%), endocrine dysfunction symptoms (12 cases, 15.4%). After transsphenoidal surgery, 93.5% (58/62) had improvements in headache, and 97.1% (34/35) had improved or resolved compressive visual symptoms. Delayed hyponatremia occurred on average on day 6.46 and lasted on average for 4.40 days. Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent influencing factor of delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery in patients with RCCs was postoperative diaphragma sellae height. CONCLUSION: Postoperative diaphragma sellae height was identified as an independent influencing factor for delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery in patients with RCCs.