Giving magnesium w/o a BMP

[EaglesWings21, ASN, RN]

A young family member of mine recently had a hospital stay for asthma exacerbation, and he was given magnesium IVPB without any blood drawn or any concrete evidence that he was deficient in magnesium. I am asking for my own knowledge, not looking to see if malpractice took place; in your experience do hospitals typically give magnesium without checking electrolytes? If so, is there a risk when doing that? In school I have learned that having too much can be just as bad as having too little, but I am sure hands on experience from you all can tell me more than my books. Thanks!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Because you are asking due to family member being involved this is bordering on medical advice. This may be something worth discussing with the PCP or staff on the ward as an order was given by a medical staff member

[EaglesWings21, ASN, RN]

Ok I am not sure where to edit the post. The question I am asking I guess is does your hospital policy require a BMP done before giving magnesium IVPB? I researched the topic and am not finding much.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

BMP does not give a mag level...for asthma attacks, we give mag all the time without knowing the electrolytes.

[EaglesWings21, ASN, RN]

I looked up BMP and CMP and you are indeed correct, psu_213. Thank you for the clarification. And I did eventually find that magnesium is given for moderate to severe asthma attacks because it relaxes the muscles in the bronchi.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

BMP does not give a mag level...for asthma attacks, we give mag all the time without knowing the electrolytes.

This is true, you don't get a mag level unless you order an extended chem panel/chem 10. BMP only gives you sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarb, BUN, creatinine and glucose (and sometimes calcium). The purpose of giving magnesium for an acute asthma attack is not to correct a magnesium deficiency, it's because of magnesium's effect on smooth muscles/its actions as a bronchodilator. If you google "magnesium for acute asthma", there is plenty of evidence out there.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Magnesium is commonly administered IV for the management of severe asthma attacks due bronchodilation effects. Studies have shown it can be given via nebulizer too.

[h=1]Inhaled magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute asthma.[/h]

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Magnesium -- The idea of using magnesium to treat asthma comes from the fact that people who have asthma often have low levels of magnesium, and from some (but not all) studies showing that intravenous (IV) magnesium can work as an emergency treatment for an asthma attack

.

Source: Asthma | University of Maryland Medical Center Asthma | University of Maryland Medical Center

University of Maryland Medical Center

intravenous (IV) administration of magnesium sulfate may improve bronchodilation and improve airflow. For patients with the most severe airflow obstruction, IV magnesium sulfate appears to provide important clinical benefits, including a lower rate of hospital admission from the emergency department.[

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/483979

medscape requires registration but is free!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

from a fair amount of reading, a fair % of USArs are mag def. and, as the anti supplement group likes to point out, it wouldn't work if it weren't needed......