[The effect of intravenous magnesium on the arrhythmias in patients after electrical cardioversion].

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of magnesium, applied by intravenous infusion, on supraventricular and ventricular cardiac arrhythmias in patients after effective electric cardioversion. 30 patients examined were: 4 women and 26 men aged from 24 to 84 years (the average age being 56.1). All patients had previously been treated successfully by electric cardioversion. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 of 15 patients aged 24 through 74 years, group 2 of 15 patients aged 25 through 76 years. After effective cardioversion, in the first group of patients, the infusion of 500 ml 0.9% NaCl was applied; whereas the other group of patients received 500 ml 0.9% NaCl with 5g MgSO4 and 20 mEq KCl. After electric cardioversion all patients had 24-hour Holter monitoring. After successful electric cardioversion in all the examined patients, supraventricular and ventricular cardiac arrhythmias were observed. However, in group 2 numerous premature supraventricular beats, episodes of atrial fibrillation, numerous premature ventricular beats, multifocal premature ventricular beats and pairs of ventricular beats were rarer than in the 1st group. In conclusion, it should be stated that the intravenous application of magnesium can be an effective method of treating supraventricular et ventricular cardiac arrhythmias occurring with patients after electric cardioversion.