A Correlational Study Between Changes in Serum Electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, Mg) and Acute Myocardial Infarction Complication

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe term "arrhythmia" refers to any change from the normal sequence of electrical impulses. The electrical impulses may happen too fast, too slowly or erratically causing the heart to beat too fast, too slowly or erratically. When the heart doesn't beat properly, it can't pump blood effectively. When the heart doesn't pump blood effectively, the lungs, brain and all other organs can't work properly and may shutdown or be damaged. Normally, the heart's most rapidly firing cells are in the sinus (or sino-atrial or SA) node making that area a natural pacemaker. Under some conditions, almost all heart tissue can start an impulse of the type that can generate a heartbeat. Cells in the heart's conduction system can fire automatically and start electrical activity. This activity can interrupt the normal order of the heart's pumping activity. Secondary pacemakers elsewhere in the heart provide a "backup" rhythm when the sinus node doesn't work properly or when impulses are blocked somewhere in the conduction system. An arrhythmia occurs when the heart's natural pacemaker develops an abnormal rate or rhythm. The normal conduction pathway is interrupted. Another part of the heart takes over as pacemaker.The aim of the study is to observe the prevalence of various electrolyte (Na, K, Cl and Mg) imbalances in complications of arrhythmias. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a prospective study in which the patient admitted with signs and symptoms of cardiac arrhythmias diagnosed clinically, 100 cases were selected over 1 year. RESULTSThe serum magnesium, sodium and potassium levels were significantly lower in the AMI patients at baseline and gradually becomes near normal on 4 th day. K and Mg are showing significant difference between pre and post values in males and Mg show significant difference between pre and post values day 1 and day 5 in females with arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONPersistent hyponatraemia is indication of worsening cardiac failure and cardiogenic shock. There is also relationship between serum potassium and QTc interval, so estimation of sodium, potassium, chlorine and magnesium levels in arrhythmia patients can help to assess prognosis.