Pharmacokinetics of Magnesium Bolus Therapy in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of a 20 mmol magnesium bolus in regards to serum and urinary magnesium concentration, volume of distribution, and half-life. Design: Prospective, experimental study. Setting: A university-affiliated teaching hospital. Participants: Twenty consecutive cardiac surgery patients treated with magnesium bolus therapy for prevention of arrhythmia. Interventions: A 20-mmol bolus of magnesium sulfate was administered intravenously. Measurements and Main Results: Median magnesium levels increased from 1.04 (interquartile range 0.94-1.23) mmol/L to 1.72 (1.57-2.14) mmol/L after 60 minutes of magnesium infusion (p < 0.001) but decreased to 1.27 (1.21-1.36) ..