A Study of Hypomagnesemia in Patients Admitted in Medical ICU and Its Correlation with Final Outcome

Introduction: Magnesium is the second most common intracellular cation found in the body that is required as cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions, smooth functioning of cardiac and neurological systems. Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked in critically ill patients and is linked with risk of electrolyte imbalance, difficulty weaning off ventilator, sudden cardiac deaths and poorer outcome. Objective- To assess prevalence of magnesium deficiency in critically ill patients admitted to Medical ICU and its association with requirement & duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, APACHE-II & mortality. Methods- Prospective descriptive study was conducted on 69 critically ill patients admitted in medical ICU. After taking informed consent serum magnesium level of patients were collected and entered in spreadsheet and final analysis was done with help of Open EPI and SPSS software. Results-It was concluded that patients having hypomagnesemia were at increased risk of electrolyte abnormalities, longer ventilatory support, longer hospital and ultimately poorer outcome stay as compared to patients with normal magnesium levels. Conclusion- Magnesium remains an important but often side-lined cation in critically ill patients. However, Hypomagnesemia is a repeated finding seen in critically ill patients and is significantly associated with a higher mortality rate and frequent need for mechanical ventilation.

Three level risk assessment for pancreatic fistula formation after distal pancreatectomy with a strategy for prevention.

Background: Distal pancreatectomy (DP) has a high post-operative morbidity predominantly due to pancreatic fistula though the mortality is very low. Data on distal pancreatectomy was reviewed to analyse the risk factors that contribute to this morbidity. Methods: Thirty three patients underwent distal pancreatectomy with sutured closure of the remnant, over a 5-year period between May 2006 and April 2011. Pancreatic fistula (PF) was defined according to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula definition. Patient and surgical risk factors were subdivided as those reflecting a poorer pre-morbid status, those associated with increased complexity of surgery and those related to pancreas gland and were analyzed for incidence of pancreatic fistula. Results: Indications for DP included 16 (51.5%) pancreatic tumours, 13 (39.4%) chronic pancreatitis and 3 (9.1%) trauma. Spleen was preserved in 12 patients (36.4 %).There was no mortality while the morbidity rate was 45.5% (n=15). Incidence of pancreatic fistula was 30.3% (n=10); eight were grade A (80%) and two were grade C (20%). Incidence of clinically significant pancreatic fistulae was 6.1%. PF was significantly more common if the pancreatic duct was not identified (p=0.024) was significantly less with extensive peri-pancreatic adhesions (p=0.036). Conclusions: Identification and ligation of main pancreatic duct can help reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistulae. The identification of patients at high risk of developing a PF helps to implement prevention strategies.

Major hemobilia – experience from a specialist unit in a developing country.

Background and Aim: Hemobilia is a rare but potentially life threatening problem, which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In the last few decades there has been a change in the etiologic spectrum and management of this problem in the West. The aim of this study was to analyze the etiology, clinical features, management and outcome of major hemobilia in a tertiary referral centre from western India. Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 22 patients (16 males, 6 females; mean age 39 years, range 13 to 74) who presented with major hemobilia over a 5-year period. Results: The etiology was iatrogenic in 13 patients (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage 8, post laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography 1, and liver biopsy 1), liver trauma in 6 and liver tumors in 3 patients. Twenty patients presented with gastrointestinal bleeding (melena 20 patients, hemetemesis with melena 8 patients), 5 with jaundice and 8 had fever. Abdominal angiography was performed in 20 patients. Angiography revealed pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery or its branches in 14 patients, left hepatic artery in 2, an arterio-biliary fistula in 1, tumor blush in 1 and the source could not be located in 2 patients. Seventeen of the 22 patients were treated with radiological intervention, 3 required surgery (liver resection for tumors 2, laparotomy for venous collateral bleeding of portal cavernoma 1) and two were managed conservatively. Radiological intervention involved embolisation with coils and/or glue in 16, and chemoembolisation in 1 patient. Sixteen of 17 patients responded to embolisation. Overall there were two deaths. Conclusion: The spectrum of hemobilia seen in India is now similar to that in the developed world with iatrogenic causes being the commonest. Interventional radiology can treat a majority of patients reducing the need and morbidity associated with surgery.

Reversal of severe hepato-pulmonary syndrome in congenital hepatic fibrosis after living-related liver transplantation.

We report a 5-year-old girl with congenital hepatic fibrosis who presented with clubbing and cyanosis. Partial pressure of oxygen was 40 mmHg with oxy-gen saturation of 70% on room air, which improved to 128 mmHg and 92% on inhalation of 100% oxygen. Macroaggregated albumin scan showed 58% shunting to the brain, suggestive of severe hepatopulmonary syndrome. Echocardiogram and pulmonary angiogram ruled out pulmonary hypertension. Four weeks after living-related liver transplantation, she had normal blood gases and reduction in shunting to 7% on macroaggregated albumin scan.