Feasibility of adding magnesium to intrathecal fentanyl in pediatric cardiac surgery

Magnesium sulfate in pediatric anesthesia: the Super Adjuvant

Magnesium is an essential chemical element in all organisms, intervening in most cellular enzymatic reactions; thus, its importance in homeostasis and as a therapeutic tool in highly challenging patients such as pediatrics. The primary purpose of this paper was to review the role of magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant drug in pediatric anesthesia. This compound already has the scientific backing in certain aspects such as analgesia or muscle relaxation, but only theoretical or empirical backing in others such as organ protection or inflammation, where it seems to be promising. The multitude of potential applications in pediatric anesthesia, its high safety, and low cost make magnesium sulfate could be considered a Super Adjuvant.

Magnesium supplementation reduces postoperative arrhythmias after cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatrics: a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

Postoperative arrhythmia (POA) is the most common complication encountered after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The preventive effect of magnesium in POA has been confirmed by metaanalyses in adults, but less is known in pediatric patients. A metaanalysis of published trials was conducted to examine the efficacy of magnesium supplementation in POA prevention among pediatric patients undergoing CPB. Relevant trials were identified from electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library). Pooled relative risk (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Mantel-Haenszel random-effects models, and heterogeneity was determined qualitatively according to I (2) and chi-squared statistical analyses. Among 121 potentially relevant studies, five randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a pooled total of 348 participants. Compared with placebo, magnesium supplementation decreased the incidence of arrhythmia after CPB in pediatric patients by 66 % (RR, 0.34; 95 % CI, 0.18-0.65; P = 0.001), with no heterogeneity between trials (heterogeneity P = 0.68; I (2) = 0 %). Magnesium supplementation significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative arrhythmias in pediatric patients undergoing CPB. Although the findings encourage the use of magnesium as an alternative to postoperative arrhythmias after CPB in pediatric patients, higher-quality randomized clinical trials are necessary before the findings can be generalized.