Cerebral salt wasting typically occurs after which event?

• A. Neurosurgical procedure or SAH within 10 days
• B. Myocardial infarction
• C. Pulmonary embolism
• D. Pancreatitis

Answer: (A)

Cerebral salt wasting happens when brain injury triggers excessive renal sodium loss, leading to hyponatremia with hypovolemia. It most commonly follows intracranial events, especially a neurosurgical procedure or subarachnoid hemorrhage, typically within about ten days. This context—intracranial insult within days—is what makes this the typical scenario for cerebral salt wasting. Other systemic conditions listed are not the usual setting for this specific process.