Accidental intrathecal injection of magnesium sulfate for cesarean section

Effect of intravenous magnesium on postoperative pain control for major abdominal surgery: a randomized double-blinded study

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effect of magnesium sulfate during abdominal surgery.

Methods

This randomized double-blinded study involved 84 patients candidates for abdominal surgery into two same groups. In the magnesium group, at first 25 mg/kg/1 h magnesium sulfate; and then, 100 mg/kg/24 h was infused in the intensive care unit. The pain intensity (the primary outcome), was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS) every 3 h. If the NRS was > 3, morphine (as a secondary outcome) was used and evaluated. The results were analyzed using SPSS ver. 19 software, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05

Results

Demographic parameters were similar between the groups. The pain intensity were similar at first and then at the third hour in both groups (P = 0.393 and P = 0.172, respectively), but thereafter between 6 and 24 h, the pain severity was significantly lower in the magnesium group (4.4 ± 1.3 in the control and 3.34 ± 1 in the magnesium group at 6th hour and P = 0.001). In addition, morphine intake in the first 24 h in the two groups had a significant difference, with 13.2 ± 5.7 mg in control group and 8 ± 3.5 mg in magnesium group (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

In this study, intravenous magnesium sulfate after abdominal surgeries for 24 h resolved the pain intensity after six hours and reduced morphine dosage.

Inadvertent intrathecal injections and best practice management

The intrathecal space has become an important anatomic site for medical intervention not only in anesthesia practice, but also in many other medical specialties. Undesired/inadvertent intrathecal injections (UII) are generally rare. There is tremendous variation in reported inadvertent administrations via an intrathecal route in the literature, mainly as individual cases and very small case-series reports. This review aims to identify potential sources of UII, its clinical presentations, and appropriate management. The inadvertent injectants are classified as anesthetic agents and pain medicines, chemotherapeutics, radiological contrast agents, antibiotics and corticosteroids, and miscellaneous chemical agents such as tranexamic acid. The clinical effects of UII are dependent upon inadvertent injectant(s) and dose being administered intrathecally, and can range from no adverse effect to profound neurological consequences and/or death. Prompt cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lavage and cardiopulmonary support seem to be the mainstay of treatment. If serious consequences are anticipated, CSF lavage could be lifesaving. This review additionally provides some options for comprehensive management and preventing strategies.