A Study Of Serum Electrolyte Levels During Nebulised Salbutamol Therapy

摘要

Background and objectives: Asthma is a very common disease with immense social impact. Nebulised salbutamol is the mainstay of therapy in acute severe asthma. This prospective study was done to determine the magnitude of changes in serum magnesium, potassium, phosphate and calcium during the treatment of acute severe asthma with nebulised salbutamol alone in a larger sample size, as previous studies were carried on a smaller sample size and yielded ambiguous results. Subjects and Methods: Sixty patients who met the inclusion criteria were included and their baseline electrolyte levels were measured. Nebulised salbutamol was administered every thirty minutes till the symptoms subsided and repeat serum levels of electrolytes were determined after 90 minutes. Results: Serum magnesium levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from 2.058 ± 0.0263 mg/dl to 2.048 ± 0.0268 mg/dl. Serum potassium levels decreased from 4.053 ± 0.0485 mEq/L to 3.983 ± 0.0482 mEq/L (p < 0.001). Serum phosphate levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from 3.899 ± 0.0299 mg/dl to 3.872 ± 0.0296 mg/dl, but no statistical difference was seen in the Serum calcium levels. Interpretation and Conclusion: Nebulised salbutamol therapy is associated with statistically significant decreases in serum magnesium, potassium and phosphate levels.