Effect of magnesium levels on mean tissue perfusion during and after bariatric surgeries: A randomised control trial

Background Bariatric surgeries can be complicated by decreased perfusion of tissues, which can be caused by obesity itself or different factors during surgery. This study’s primary aim was to test how magnesium affects the mean tissue perfusion and whether it can increase the perfusion or decrease the effects of hypoperfusion, while the secondary aim was to investigate its effect on decreasing postoperative pain and total analgesic consumption, sedation, and incidence of side effectsSettings and Design This study was a prospective double blinded randomized controlled study.Methods Sixty patients (ASA II-III) with morbid or complicated obesity scheduled for sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) participated in this trial. Patients were divided into two groups by randomization, the M group received an IV bolus infusion of 30 mg/kg magnesium (in a volume of 50 ml) after induction and 20 mg/kg IV infusion (in a volume of 50 ml) for 8 h postoperative and C group which received a bolus of 50 ml normal saline infusion after induction and 50 ml in saline infusion for 8 h postoperative. Serum magnesium was withdrawn after induction and before starting the bolus infusion. The perfusion index together with the level of rise in liver enzymes was compared throughout the study. Also, total analgesic use and pain severity (measured by the VAS score) were compared between the two groups.Results In comparison to the C group, the perfusion index was significantly higher in the M group (p-value <0.001). Also, the C group consumed much more analgesics and the VAS score was significantly higher (p < 0.01).Conclusion Magnesium may have a role in increasing perfusion and consequently decreasing morbidity during bariatric surgeries with no more added complications