Final answer:
Magnesium is used in cardiac arrest to treat arrhythmias like torsades de pointes. As a natural calcium channel blocker, magnesium stabilizes heart rhythm, which is crucial for treating cardiac arrhythmias during resuscitation efforts. It is especially important when an arrhythmia persists despite the use of an AED.
Step-by-step explanation:
The indication for magnesium in cardiac arrest is primarily for the treatment of arrhythmias, specifically torsades de pointes, which is a type of ventricular tachycardia that can occur when magnesium levels are low. Magnesium acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, which helps to stabilize the heart's electrical activity and can prevent or correct arrhythmias. During a cardiac arrest, quick action is vital, and if a certain arrhythmia is identified that can be treated with magnesium, administering it can be an important step in a resuscitation effort.
Clinical and experimental studies suggest that magnesium intake is inversely associated with the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and coronary heart disease, conditions that are risk factors for cardiac arrest. The exact mechanism by which magnesium can stabilize heart rhythm is linked to its role in electrolyte balance and cell function. In emergencies, such as during a cardiac arrest when an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used to deliver a shock to correct an arrhythmia, magnesium can be vital if arrhythmias continue despite defibrillation.
Magnesium's use in a cardiac emergency is akin to the controlled environment of an open-heart surgery where potassium chloride (KCl) is used to stop the heart. However, in the acute and unexpected setting of a cardiac arrest outside a surgical context, magnesium may help to restore the heart's rhythm.