Hypocalcemia and Massive Blood Transfusions: A Pilot Study in a Level I Trauma Center.

Trauma is a leading cause of death in the United States, and uncontrolled hemorrhage is often the primary cause of mortality. Massive transfusions provide lifesaving treatment for the bleeding trauma patient; yet, this is not a benign intervention. Calcium levels can be significantly decreased with rapidly transfused blood products due to the citrate preservative that is added. Citrate binds to the patient's endogenous calcium when blood products are administered, rendering calcium inactive. As a result, undesirable physiological effects can occur. Although there is a plethora of evidence reporting the negative effects of hypocalcemia during resuscitation, the research for standardization of calcium monitoring and replacement during a massive transfusion event is less robust. Consequently, monitoring and replacement of this vital electrolyte are often overlooked. Trauma department employees at an urban academic hospital were given a pretest to assess their knowledge of calcium monitoring and replacement during a massive transfusion. On the basis of test results and a need for staff education, a short, animated video was designed and distributed for viewing. Following the educational video, a posttest was administered and yielded higher scores when compared with the pretest (p = .001). Lack of knowledge and national standards may be root causes for hypocalcemia. Educational interventions such as innovative, brief videos can be effective for enhancing staff members' knowledge and improving patient care.

Caring for the infant of a diabetic mother.

In the United States, approximately 100,000 infants are born to diabetic mothers each year. If diabetes in pregnancy is uncontrolled, the diversity of resulting health problems can have a profound effect on the embryo, the fetus, and the neonate. These infants are at risk for a multitude of physiologic, metabolic, and congenital complications such as macrosomia, asphyxia, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hyperbilirubinemia, polycythemia and hyperviscosity, cardiomegaly, and central nervous system disruption. Preconception control of glucose metabolism throughout the trajectory of a woman's pregnancy is a significant factor in decreasing the adverse impact of diabetes on the fetus and newborn. Meticulous attention to neonatal glucose levels, thorough physical examination, and precise diagnosis are prerequisites to appropriate care for the neonate.

Hungry bone syndrome following parathyroidectomy.

Hyperparathyroid-associated bone disease is known to affect quality of life and contribute to premature morbidity in the end stage renal disease (ESRD) population. Failure to adequately suppress parathyroid hormone secretion with medical management often warrants parathyroidectomy. Hypocalcemia frequently occurs after parathyroidectomy. A state of marked and prolonged hypocalcemia is termed "hungry bone syndrome." Biochemical and clinical criteria associated with development of hungry bone syndrome assist with identification of those at risk and facilitates postoperative management.

Hipocalcemia, hipomagnesemia e hipofosfatemia en pacientes pediátricos críticamente enfermos

Las alteraciones en las concentraciones séricas de iones como el calcio, el magnesio y el fósforo han sido estudiadas extensamente en los últimos años en pacientes críticamente enfermos y han sido asociadas con aumento de la mortalidad. En los reportes de Broner, de valores de electrolitos en pacientes pediátricos, al ingreso en una unidad de cuidado intensivo (1), la alteración electrolítica más frecuente fue alteración en la concentración de magnesio sérico (43.4 por ciento) de los pacientes, estando 25.6 por ciento de éstos por debajo y 17.8 por ciento por encima de los valores considerados como normales (0.74 - 0.95 mmol/dl) y encontrándose además una rata significativamente diferente de mortalidad (38 por ciento) en los pacientes hipermagnesémicos. Se encontró además 16.5 por ciento de alteración en los valores de calcio ionizado y una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre la presencia de hipocalcemia ionizada y mayor mortalidad. Los valores de calcio total no se correlacionaron con los valores de calcio iónico. Otro estudio realizado por Cárdenas-Rivero y cols (2), reporta una incidencia de hipocalcemia ionizada de 18 por ciento entre pacientes pediátricos que ingresan a una UCIP, correlacionando además la presencia de hipocalcemia ionizada con una mayor severidad de la enfermedad y una mayor mortalidad. El reporte de Reinhart y Desbiens (3) muestra una incidencia de 20 por ciento de hipomagnesemia y de 9 por ciento de hipermagnesemia en adultos que ingresan a una UCI médica. Se ha reportado una importante incidencia de hipofosfatemia en pacientes adultos que ingresan a unidades de cuidado intensivo por trauma como en el estudio de Daily (4), que sugiere la administración rutinaria de infusión de fosfato a estos pacientes para evitar la presencia de hipofosfatemia. Se conoce además la importancia de la fosfatemia como causante de muchas de las manifestaciones que presentan pacientes desnutridos a los que se les administra una dieta hipercalórica. Todos los anteriores datos nos llevan a revisar la fisiopatología de estas alteraciones, para poder detectar y tratar oportunamente sus manifestaciones.

The other electrolytes: magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Other electrolytes besides sodium and potassium are important to ensure that the human body functions properly. Three of these are magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. Each one has a normal level and specific assignments. If these levels are not maintained, homeostasis ceases to exist, and imbalance ensues. This article discusses the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatments of imbalance of these electrolytes.