Magnesium and coronary revascularization

Twenty patients, who underwent coronary revascularization without cardioplegic arrest, were given (during cardiopulmonary bypass) either magnesium chloride 16 mmol in 10 ml of water (magnesium group) or 10 ml of water alone (control group). Plasma and urinary magnesium concentrations were measured for 24 h after operation. ECG was recorded continuously during this period. QT intervals corrected for heart rate (QTcorr) were calculated from periodic full lead ECG. The mean plasma magnesium concentrations in the control group were less than normal throughout the study, while hypomagnesaemia did not occur in the magnesium group. Urinary magnesium excretion was higher in the magnesium group, with 58% of the administered magnesium excreted in the first 24 h. The observed incidence of frequent or ventricular arrhythmias was 22% in the magnesium group compared with 63% in the control group. No significant differences in QTcorr intervals were observed between the groups.