Relationship between serum total magnesium and serum potassium in emergency surgical patients in a tertiary hospital in Ghana
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Date
2016-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ghana Medical Journal
Abstract
Introduction: Potassium and magnesium are the two most abundant intra-cellular cations. They play pivotal roles in
many essential biological processes. Deficiencies of these electrolytes are of clinical importance in hospitalised patients.
Aim: To determine the relationship between serum total magnesium and potassium levels in adult patients requiring
an emergency intra-abdominal surgery and the clinical utility of this relationship in the care of patients.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over a five month period at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. All
101 adult patients admitted for emergency intra-abdominal surgery, who met the inclusion criteria and gave informed
consent, were consecutively recruited and enrolled into the study. Patients’ characteristics preoperative total
serum magnesium, serum potassium and albumin levels were determined. Regression analysis and correlation coefficients
were used to determine the relation between serum magnesium and potassium. Analysis was done using
SPSS version 20.
Results: Mean serum total magnesium and serum potassium were 0.66±0.20mmol/L and 3.79±0.65mmol/L respectively.
There was a significant but weak positive correlation between serum hypokalaemia and serum magnesium
levels. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (2 tailed) was 0.21, R2= 0.04, p = value 0.038. Analysis generated a regression
model: [Mg] = 0.06[K] + 0.42mmol/L, with a p-value = 0.038.
Conclusion: A mathematical relationship was found between serum total magnesium and serum potassium among
adult patients who require emergency intra-abdominal surgery. However, it had limited clinical utility.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Potassium, magnesium, electrolyte, preoperative period