A meta‐analysis of magnesium for tetanus

Summary Uncontrolled studies suggest that magnesium sulphate controls spasms in patients with established tetanus. We performed a meta‐analysis of controlled trials that compared magnesium sulphate with placebo or diazepam for the treatment of patients with tetanus. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia 2012-12, Vol.67 (12), p.1370-1374
Main Authors: Rodrigo, C., Samarakoon, L., Fernando, S. D., Rajapakse, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anesthesia
Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical outcomes
Clinical trials
Diazepam
Dietary supplements
Female
Humans
Magnesium
Magnesium Sulfate - therapeutic use
Male
Medical sciences
Meta-analysis
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Spasm - etiology
Spasm - prevention & control
Tetanus
Tetanus - complications
Tetanus - drug therapy
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Summary:Summary Uncontrolled studies suggest that magnesium sulphate controls spasms in patients with established tetanus. We performed a meta‐analysis of controlled trials that compared magnesium sulphate with placebo or diazepam for the treatment of patients with tetanus. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane clinical trials registry. Three studies met the inclusion criteria, containing 275 participants (199 male patients, 72.4%). Magnesium sulphate did not reduce mortality, relative risk (95% CI): vs placebo, 0.80 (0.41–1.58); vs diazepam, 1.11 (0.70–1.75). The data on duration of total intensive care unit stay, total hospital stay and the need for ventilatory support were conflicting and pooling of results could not be done due to methodological differences of individual trials. More controlled trials are needed to assess the effect of magnesium sulphate on reducing autonomic instability, spasms, duration of intensive care and hospital stays and the need for mechanical ventilation.
ISSN:0003-2409
1365-2044
DOI:10.1111/anae.12020