• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 1998

Arrhythmias are common after cardiac surgery and are multifactorial. Intravenous magnesium administration reduces the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patient with symptomatic heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. This study was designed to evaluate the role of magnesium in preventing PVCs(premature ventricular contractions) occurred frequently after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). 50 consecutive patients were prospectively entered into a randomized trial to determine the efficacy of postoperative magnesium therapy on the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias after elective coronary artery bypass graft. The patients underwent coronary angiography, echocardiography, electrocardiography and clinical laboratory study preoperatively. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring was done and magnesium level was checked 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours postoperatively. Study group of 25 patients were given 4g of magnesium continuously over the first 24 hours and then 2g/24hours from 25 to 72 hours. The clinical characteristics of both groups were similar(p<0.05). The preoperative mean serum magnesium concentration was similar in both study group, 1.59mg/dl and control group, 1.71mg/dl. The mean postoperative serum magnesium concentration in study group elevated significantly over postoperative 12hours through 36hours(p<0.05). The postoperative mean serum magnesium concentration in control group declined and remained significantly depressed over immediate postoperation through 72hours. The mean serum magnesium concentration was significantly greater in the study group compared with the control group over postoperative 3hours through 72hours(p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in the incidence of arrhythmias such as PVCs(p<0.01) which might jeopardize hemodynamics. There were no recognized adverse effects of magnesium Administration. In conclusion, prophylactic magnesium administration seems to lessen the incidence and severity of rrhythmias after coponary artery bypass graft.