Magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant to anesthesia in patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

There is limited evidence showing that elevated arterial blood pressure in surgical patients may be associated with increased perioperative risk; however, cardiovascular instability frequently occurs during anesthesia. Th e most commonly used anesthetic agents, both intravenous and inhalation ones, produce a decrease in arterial blood pressure. Magnesium, acting as a natural calciumchannel blocker, induces direct and indirect vasodilatation, thus playing a role in the treatment of arterial hypertension. In this research, we assessed the eff ects of magnesium sulfate on cardiovascular stability in patients undergoing diverse planned surgical procedures (abdominal, orthopedic, urology) under general balanced anesthesia, who were diagnosed with arterial hypertension grade 1 and 2. Th e research encompassed 100 patients of both sexes, aged from 20 to 65. Immediately before induction of anesthesia with propofol, the patients in the experimental group (50 study subjects) received 30 mg/ kg bolus dose and magnesium sulfate infusion at 10 mg/kg/h, whereas the subjects in the control group (50 patients) were administered normal saline. Anesthesia was achieved and maintained with sevofl urane, fentanyl and rocuronium. Th e hemodynamic variables of mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured every fi ve minutes, starting immediately before magnesium infusion. Statistical analysis of the categorized values of mean arterial pressure and heart rate revealed a statistically signifi cant between-group diff erence at 60th and 90th minute of anesthesia. In conclusion, magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant to anesthesia in patients with arterial hypertension reduces hemodynamic changes during anesthesia.