Potassium and Magnesium Changes Associated with Programmed Electrical Stimulation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Serum potassium and magnesium concentrations decrease secondary to an increase in catecholamine concentrations. We hypothesized that during programmed electrical stimulation (PES), where stress of the procedure may elevate catecholamine levels, potassium and magnesium concentrations would decrease. To test this hypothesis, potassium and magnesium concentrations were measured at baseline, during, and after PES in 16 patients. Potassium concentrations (mean ± standard deviation) decreased from 4.5 ± 0.3 (mEq/L) at baseline to 3.9 ± 0.2 during PES (P < 0.05). At 2 hours post‐PES, serum potassium concentrations returned to baseline values (mean 4.2 ± 0.5 mEq/L, P > 0.05 compared to baseline). Mean magnesium concentrations (mmol/L) decreased from 0.84 ± 0.07 at baseline to 0.81 ± 0.07 at the end of PES (P < 0.05) but did not decrease significantly during PES.In conclusion, potassium concentrations decreased significantly during PES, whereas magnesium concentrations decreased slightly but significantly at the end of PES. These changes in electrolyte concentrations may be due to catecholamine influence secondary to the PES procedure. In light of these observations, serum concentrations of potassium and magnesium should be normalized prior to PES procedure in order to prevent hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia.