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Magnesium Excess2

Hypermagnesemia is an electrolyte abnormality caused by elevated levels of magnesium in the blood. It is rare because the kidneys efficiently excrete magnesium. Causes include renal failure, excessive magnesium administration, excessive antacid or laxative use, and trauma. Diagnosis involves a serum magnesium level greater than 2.3 mg/dL through a blood test. Symptoms range from mild nausea and weakness to paralysis and cardiac arrest. Treatment involves discontinuing magnesium administration, calcium supplementation, hemodialysis, and monitoring for signs of toxicity.

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40 views3 pages

Magnesium Excess2

Hypermagnesemia is an electrolyte abnormality caused by elevated levels of magnesium in the blood. It is rare because the kidneys efficiently excrete magnesium. Causes include renal failure, excessive magnesium administration, excessive antacid or laxative use, and trauma. Diagnosis involves a serum magnesium level greater than 2.3 mg/dL through a blood test. Symptoms range from mild nausea and weakness to paralysis and cardiac arrest. Treatment involves discontinuing magnesium administration, calcium supplementation, hemodialysis, and monitoring for signs of toxicity.

Uploaded by

Floriejane Marata
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MAGNESIUM EXCESS: HYPERMAGNESEMIA

OBJECTIVES

• At the end of the discussion, the listeners will be able to:

 Identify the importance of magnesium into the body

 Define what is magnesium

 Interpret the diagnostic tests involve in diagnosing hypermagnesemia

WHAT IS MAGNESIUM?

• Magnesium is the most abundant intracellular cation after potassium. It acts as an


activator for many intracellular enzyme systems and plays a role in both carbohydrate
and protein metabolism. The normal magnesium level is 1.3-2.3 mg/dL.

• Magnesium balance is important in neuromuscular function. Because magnesium acts


directly on the myoneural junction, variations in the serum level affects
neuromuscular irritability and contractility.

• Magnesium also affects the cardiovascular system, acting peripherally to produce


vasodilation and decreased peripheral resistance.

• It is predominantly found in bone and soft tissues and eliminated by the kidneys.

What hypermagnesemia?

• Hypermagnesemia is a rare electrolyte abnormality, because the kidney efficiently


excrete magnesium. A serum magnesium level can appear falsely elevated if blood
specimens are allowed to hemolyze or are drawn to an extermity with a tourniquet
that was applied too tightly.

Etiology/Causes

• Renal failure (most common)

• Untreated ketoacidosis

• Excessive magnesium administration (patients who receive to control seizures, to


treat hypertension during pregnancy, or to treat hypomagnesemia)

• Addison’s disease
• Excessive use of antacids or laxatives

• Extensive soft tissue injury or necrosis with trauma, shock, sepsis, cardiac arrest, or
severe burns

Diagnostic findings

• Through laboratory analysis, serum magnesium level is greater than 2.3 mg/dL ,
increased potassium and calcium and decease in createnine in less than 3.0mL/min
(blood test)

• ECG findings may include prolonged PR interval, tall T waves, widened QRS, and
prolonged QT interval, as well as an atrioventricular block

Signs & symptoms

• Mildly increase

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Weakness

• Soft tisue calcification

• Facial flushing

• Warm sensation

• Severe increase

• Lethargy

• Difficulty in speaking

• Drowsiness

• Paralysis may develop

• Cardiac arrest

• (platelet clumping and delayed thrombin formation)


Medical management

• Avoiding administration of magnesium and monitoring patients who are receiving


magnesium salts.

• For severe cases administration is discontinued. For respiratory depression or


defective cardiac conduction, ventilatory support and IV calcium gluconate is
indicated. In addition, hemodialysis with magnesium free dialysate can reduce the
magnesium to a safe level within hours.

Nursing intervention

• Monitor vital signs noting hypotension and shallow respirations.

• Decreased DTR and changes in LOC.

• Magnesium contained medications are not administered to clients with renal failure(
check for the health care provider before taking OTC medications).

REFERENCE:

S.C. Smeltzer, et. Al., 2010,Brunner & Suddarth's textbook of medical-surgical nursing- 12th ed.

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