Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: August 30, 2020
Electrocardiographic abnormalities and serum magnesium in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage
Walter M van den Bergh1, Ale Algra, Gabriël J E Rinkel
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Room G03.124, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. w.m.vandenbergh@neuro.azu.nl
Background And Purpose:
ECG abnormalities and hypomagnesemia frequently occur after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because hypomagnesemia is associated with several ECG abnormalities, we studied whether hypomagnesemia mediates ECG abnormalities after SAH.
Methods:
We prospectively studied a consecutive series of 62 patients admitted within 72 hours after aneurysmal SAH. A standard 12-lead ECG and serum magnesium measurement were routinely performed at admission. The relationship between serum magnesium and ECG abnormalities was assessed with linear regression analysis and the Mann-Whitney test in case of dichotomized ECG abnormalities.
Results:
Hypomagnesemia was present in 23 patients (37%), and 38 patients (61%) had a long QTc duration. Low serum magnesium was related to a long PR interval (P=0.001) and a shorter QTc interval (P=0.004). Adjustment for World Federation of Neurological Surgeons score, hydrocephalus, and the amount of cisternal and ventricular blood did not influence these relations.
Conclusions:
In patients with SAH, lower serum magnesium levels are related to less pronounced increase in the QTc interval. Although the direction of the relation was unexpected, decreased serum magnesium might be the missing link between SAH and ECG abnormalities.
More Related Videos
18:11A Research Method For Detecting Transient Myocardial Ischemia In Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Continuous ST-segment Analysis
Published on: December 28, 2012
08:28Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus
Published on: April 5, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Electrocardiogram
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias