• To understand the role of magnesium in human physiological functioning
• To learn how hypomagnesaemia, a deficiency of magnesium, can affect the neuromuscular, cardiovascular and renal systems
• To enhance your knowledge of the clinical management of patients with hypomagnesaemia
Magnesium is an intracellular electrolyte and is a vital element in human physiological functioning. A deficiency in magnesium, termed hypomagnesaemia, can affect the neuromuscular, cardiovascular and renal systems. Hypomagnesaemia may be more prevalent in patients with cancer than in the general population. The increasing numbers of cancer diagnoses in the UK means that emergency department (ED) nurses are likely to be involved in care of this population, including those with suspected hypomagnesaemia. This article describes some of the causes and signs and symptoms of hypomagnesaemia and outlines the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with the condition. The article includes a case study of a patient with cancer who was admitted to an ED with hypomagnesaemia.
Emergency Nurse. 31, 1, 27-31. doi: 10.7748/en.2022.e2141
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Cushny A, Rees R (2022) Hypomagnesaemia: diagnosis and management in the emergency department. Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2022.e2141
Published online: 26 July 2022
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