Effects of magnesium sulphate on coagulation after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery, measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®)

Magnesium Ion: A New Switch in Tumor Treatment

The magnesium ion is an essential cation in the human body and participates in numerous physiological activities. A deficiency in magnesium ions is closely associated with tumor development, and supplementation with magnesium ions has been shown to partially inhibit tumor growth. However, the specific mechanisms by which magnesium ions suppress tumor proliferation remain unclear. Currently, studies have revealed that mitochondria may serve as a crucial intermediate link in the regulation of tumors by magnesium ions. Mitochondria might intervene in the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells by modulating energy metabolism and oxidative stress levels. Regrettably, there has been no comprehensive review of the role of magnesium in cancer therapy to date. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive scrutiny of the relationship between magnesium ions and tumors, aiming to offer insights for clinical tumor treatment strategies involving magnesium ion intervention.

Effect of Intraoperative Magnesium Sulfate Administration on Blood Glucose Control following Total Joint Arthroplasty in Patients with Diabetes

Magnesium deficiency, which is known to be highly prevalent among patients with diabetes, has been associated with insulin resistance and poor glucose control. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of intraoperative magnesium administration on postoperative glucose control in patients with diabetes. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes who had undergone total joint arthroplasty at a tertiary hospital, where intraoperative magnesium sulfate injections were frequently performed for postoperative analgesia. The patients were grouped based on whether treated with magnesium or not (magnesium vs. control groups). We investigated postoperative blood glucose levels and sliding scale insulin requirements. After propensity matching, 170 patients were allotted to each group. Both the mean glucose level and the incidence of a mean glucose level of >200mg/dL were significantly lower in the magnesium group than in the control group (p = 0.040 and 0.013, respectively). There was also a lower insulin requirement in the magnesium group (p = 0.043). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that magnesium treatment was significantly related to a less frequent incidence of a mean blood glucose level of >200 mg/dL (p = 0.047). This study demonstrated that magnesium sulfate infusion was associated with an improved postoperative blood glucose profile in patients with diabetes.

Blood Products, Crystalloids, and Rapid Infusion: An Experimental Study With Magnesium

OBJECTIVES

Calcium and magnesium are concentration-dependent pro- and anticoagulant cofactors, and magnesium behaves similarly to calcium in the presence of citrate. The authors hypothesized that magnesium can cause clot formation (primary objective) when mixed with coagulation factor-containing blood products diluted with different crystalloids in a rapid- infuser reservoir. A secondary objective was the observation of any infuser alarms and stops in the event of clotting.

DESIGN

An experimental in vitro study with blood products, crystalloids, magnesium, and calcium in a rapid infuser with a reservoir using a closed-loop system.

SETTING

Anesthesia research laboratory at an urban academic tertiary medical center PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable.

INTERVENTIONS

Exposure of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and packed red blood cells alone (control) or in combination with either normal saline (NS), lactated Ringer's solution (LR), or Plasma-Lyte A (PL) to increasing concentrations of magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) up to 1 g. After each incremental MgSO₄ change, the authors applied a specific pump-flow sequence in a closed-loop system with a rapid-infuser reservoir, and if no clot was observed, the authors incrementally added calcium chloride (CaCl₂) up to 1 g.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Observation of macroscopic clot and time to event, as well as occurrence and type of any pump alarms or stops. LR experiments resulted in clot observation in the reservoir by a dedicated observer after MgSO₄ 275 ± 206 mg (95% confidence interval [CI], 9-541). Adding MgSO₄ 1 g in the NS, PL, or the control experiments did not result in clot observation. Only when CaCl₂ 166.7 ± 51.64 mg (95% CI, 112.0-22.01) was added to the combination of blood products alone or mixed with NS and PL, clotting occurred. The mean FFP volume was 281 ± 48.6 mL (range, 204-340 mL) and was not different between groups (p = 0.44). Pump alarms and stops were inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of magnesium to a combination of LR with coagulation factor- containing blood products consistently resulted in a visible blood clot in the rapid-infuser reservoir in the authors' experimental setup. In addition to MgSO₄ 1 g in the control, NS, and PL experiments, CaCl₂ is needed before a clot can be observed.

Antitussive effect of a magnesium infusion during anesthetic emergence in patients with double-lumen endotracheal tube: a randomized controlled trial

Background

A double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) inserted into the bronchus can stimulate the respiratory tracts, causing coughing. Opioids have been introduced to prevent emergence cough. However, the administration of a significant opioid dose at the end of surgery may result in undesirable events. Magnesium, common intracellular ion, suppress bronchial smooth muscle contraction and have antitussive effect. We investigated the antitussive effects of a magnesium infusion during anesthetic emergence in patients who underwent thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation (OLV) anesthesia with a DLT.

Methods

One-hundred forty patients undergoing OLV anesthesia with a DLT were enrolled in this prospective, randomized double-blinded trial. In combination with a low dose of remifentanil, patients were randomly allocated to receive either magnesium sulphate (infusion of 15 mg/kg/hour after a single bolus of 30 mg/kg) or normal saline during the operation and emergence. Primary outcomes were the severity and incidence of cough during emergence.

Results

The severity of cough was assessed by the cough severity grading score: 0, no cough; 1, single cough; 2, cough persistence <5 seconds; 3, cough persistence ≥5 seconds. There was a significant difference in the severity score of cough between the groups [median (IQR): 2 (0 to 3) in control group vs. 0 (0 to 1) in magnesium group, P=0.003]. However, there was no significant difference in the overall incidence of cough between both groups [42 (64.6%) in control group vs. 31 (47.7%) in magnesium group, P=0.077].

Conclusions

Magnesium attenuated the severity of cough during emergence after OLV anesthesia using a DLT without adverse events.

Effects of Choline and Magnesium Concurrent Supplementation on Coagulation and Lipid Profile in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Pilot Clinical Trial

Metabolic failure is associated with dyslipidemia and coagulation which can result in a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of choline and magnesium co-supplementation on lipid profile and coagulation parameters in patients with T2DM. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, supplements of choline bitartrate (1000 mg), magnesium oxide (500 mg), choline plus magnesium, or placebo were administered for 2 months to 96 diabetic participants of both sexes aged 30-60 years. Anthropometric characteristics, dietary intake, physical activity, serum lipids, and coagulation markers were measured in all subjects. Significant differences were observed in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in the magnesium and choline-magnesium groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) levels increased in choline-magnesium groups (p < 0.001). When adjusted for potential confounders, a significant decrease in PAI-1 (p = 0.03) and a marginally significant increase in tPA (p = 0.054) were found in the choline-magnesium group compared with the other groups. Compared with baseline values, there were significant differences in serum magnesium, HDL, and triglycerides (TG) following choline-magnesium co-supplementation (p < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in serum magnesium, HDL, and TG among the groups (p > 0.05). Overall, concurrent supplementation of magnesium and choline is more effective than either magnesium or choline alone to improve coagulation in subjects with T2DM.

Magnesium Sulfate Treatment During Total Knee Arthroplasty Decreases Postoperative Urinary Retention: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication after total knee arthroplasty. Currently, there are no clinical data regarding the effects of magnesium sulfate on POUR. Here, we investigated the effects of intraoperative magnesium sulfate infusion in patients with POUR following total knee arthroplasty. We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia between June 2016 and May 2018. The patients were grouped based on whether they were treated with magnesium (magnesium group) or not (control group). We investigated the incidence of POUR and the postoperative analgesic requirement. Totally, 483 patients were included in the analysis. After propensity score matching with the control group, the magnesium group showed a lower incidence of POUR (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29–0.83; p = 0.011) and lesser opioid consumption (p = 0.049) than the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that intraoperative continuous infusion of magnesium (p = 0.008) and age (p = 0.001) were significantly related to the incidence of POUR. This retrospective observational study demonstrated that administration of magnesium sulfate was associated with a lower incidence of POUR following total knee arthroplasty.

Magnesium Therapy Improves Rotational Thromboelastometry Findings Prior to Liver Transplantation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

An important challenge during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is optimal coagulation management. There are diverse studies regarding effect of Mg sulfate on coagulation system. This study evaluates the impact of Mg sulfate on the coagulation parameters of the rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in patients about to undergo OLT. In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who were going to undergo OLT were randomly allocated into two groups. In the Mg group, the patients received a 1.5 g infusion of Mg 5 min before the surgical incision. In the control group, patients received a physiological saline instead of Mg. Plasma Mg levels before and after the infusions were measured in both groups. Also, three ROTEM tests: EXTEM, INTEM and FIBTEM were performed before and after the infusions. Baseline mean plasma magnesium levels were within normal range in the control and Mg groups: 2.06 and 2.18 mg/dl, respectively. After magnesium therapy, the mean plasma Mg level in the Mg group increased to 2.78 mg/dl in compared to the control group that was 2.01 mg/dl (P < 0.000). Mean value of the clotting time (CT) in the magnesium group were significantly decreased from 129.50 ± 7.76, 381.86 ± 8.51 and 114.26 ± 6.80 to 86.13 ± 3.4, 209.33 ± 6.68 and 81.56 ± 5.01 in the EXTEM, INTEM, and FIBTEM respectively after intervention in the Mg group (P = 0.001). Among patients with end-stage liver diseases who have ROTEM evidence of hypocoagulability, magnesium could correct CT parameter of the ROTEM tests.

Does plateletpheresis induce a hypercoagulable state? A global assessment of donor's hemostatic system by ROTEM

Since there is still debate on the effects of plateletpheresis on coagulation system, we aimed to perform a global assessment of donor's hemostatic function undergoing plateletpheresis by rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis and to clarify if plateletpheresis procedure induces a hypercoagulable state. Thirty male plateletpheresis donors were included in the study. Four blood samples were drawn at different time intervals: before the beginning of the apheresis procedure; immediately after the completion of the apheresis procedure; 24 h and 7 days after the apheresis procedure. "Hypercoagulability" was diagnosed readily by having an accelerated clot formation, as evidenced by shortening of CFT and an increase of the clot strength, as evidenced by increasing of MCF. In INTEM assay, CFT value after apheresis was significantly prolonged compared with baseline value while CFT value 7 days after apheresis was significantly shortened compared with values immediately and 24 h after apheresis (p < 0.001). However, CFT-INTEM still did not show any shortening in any of the measurements when compared to pre-apheresis value. MCF value after apheresis was significantly shortened compared with baseline value while MCF value 7 days after apheresis was significantly prolonged compared with values immediately and 24 h after apheresis (p < 0.001). However, MCF-INTEM still did not show any increase in any of the measurements when compared to pre-apheresis value. There was no significant difference in CT value between four measurements (p = 0.064). In EXTEM assay, CFT value after apheresis was significantly prolonged compared with baseline value while CFT value 7 days after apheresis was significantly shortened compared with values immediately and 24 h after apheresis (p < 0.001). However, CFT-EXTEM still did not show any shortening in any of the measurements when compared to pre-apheresis value. MCF values immediately and 24 h after apheresis were significantly shortened compared with baseline value while MCF value 7 days after apheresis was significantly prolonged compared with values immediately and 24 h after apheresis (p < 0.001). However, MCF-EXTEM still did not show any increase in any of the measurements when compared to pre-apheresis value. We found no differences in CT value between four measurements (p = 0.208). Since ROTEM tracings on both INTEM and EXTEM assays did not reveal any significant shortening of CFT and increasing of MCF in any of the measurements after apheresis procedure, we concluded that plateletpheresis does not induce a hypercoagulable state in healthy donors.

The Double Hazard of Bleeding and Thrombosis in Hemostasis From a Clinical Point of View: A Global Assessment by Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM)

Hemostasis is a complex dynamic process involving bleeding and thrombosis as two end-points. Conventional coagulation tests which are measured in plasma examine only isolated portions of the coagulation cascade, thereby giving no information on important interactions essential to the clinical evaluation of hemostatic function. Thromboelastography (TEG), originally described in 1948 has improved over the decades and become a valuable tool of coagulation testing because of the limitations of standard coagulation tests. TEG is a technique that provides data about the entire coagulation system, from the beginning of clot formation to fibrinolysis, involving both cellular and plasma components of hemostasis. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) which evolved from TEG technology overcome several limitations of classical TEG while maintaining a good correlation with conventional TEG determination. ROTEM analyses are useful for rapid assessment of global clotting function in various clinical situations including liver transplantation, cardiac surgery, obstetrics, trauma, hemophilia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. ROTEM has been also reported to be useful in identifying various hypercoagulable conditions including major surgery, malignancy, Behcet’s disease and apheresis. Further developments in ROTEM based transfusion strategies may also reduce transfusion requirements and improve clinical outcomes by optimizing the administration of blood components. This is a literature review of ROTEM including its technique, interpretation and specially clinical applications in different scenarios of bleeding and thrombotic disorders.