None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Magnesium is an essential macronutrient that exists in every human cell for the body to function, it plays a vital role in many body processes, including muscle (like heart muscles), nerve, bone health and mood. As such, inadequate magnesium in the body can cause a range of medical conditions and complications. While many studies have been carried out in the intensive care setting, reporting that magnesium deficiency is prevalent in those critically ill patients, few studies have investigated this problem after major abdominal surgery. However, in practice, low magnesium is often seen after a major abdominal operation, in particular bowel surgery, as such, some doctors may empirically prescribe magnesium for patients undergoing these procedures. Given that magnesium is readily available and easy to administer, there is an urgent need to know how bad the postoperative deficiency is so that correction can be made in a timely manner.
Interventions
Participants' magnesium levels are routinely measured as part of standard medical care before and after major abdominal surgery.
Before the surgery when patients attend the pre-admission clinic, blood will be drawn at the clinic for the routine preoperative blood tests, among which, one serum magnesium level is measured, which will be used as a baseline value for that particular patient. Of note, a single baseline serum magnesium level, through the routine preoperative blood tests, of no more th
Participants' magnesium levels are routinely measured as part of standard medical care before and after major abdominal surgery. Before the surgery when patients attend the pre-admission clinic, blood will be drawn at the clinic for the routine preoperative blood tests, among which, one serum magnesium level is measured, which will be used as a baseline value for that particular patient. Of note, a single baseline serum magnesium level, through the routine preoperative blood tests, of no more than 10 mL blood will be drawn from the patient. After the surgery, routine postoperative blood tests will usually be performed on the next morning after operation, i.e., postoperative day-1, among these routine blood test, the second serum magnesium level is measured, which will be used to compare with that participant's baseline serum magnesium level. Of note, a single serum magnesium level, through the routine preoperative blood tests, of no more than 10 mL blood will be drawn from the patient. As such, the total duration from before to after major abdominal surgery during the assessment of serum magnesium levels is 2 days.
Sponsors
Dr Aihua Wu
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Inclusions (must meet all of the following three criteria): 1. Adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic or open abdominal surgery at Angliss Hospital and Maroondah Hospital, Eastern Health 2. Surgery must last more than two hours 3. Patients must stay in the hospital for more than one night
Exclusion criteria
Exclusions: 1. Patient refusal 2. younger than 18 years old 3. Language barrier 4. Intellectual disability or dementia
Outcome results
None listed