Original Article

Evaluation of Postoperative Electrolyte Imbalance in Maxillofacial Surgery Patients

Citation: Soltaninia O, Mousavie Z, Seyed Tabib M, Moosavi Seresht SM. Evaluation of Postoperative Electrolyte Imbalance in Maxillofacial Surgery Patients. Avicenna J Dent Res. 2019;11(3):98-103. doi: 10.34172/ajdr.2019.19.

Background

Highlights

• We found that imbalances of calcium and magnesium, two electrolytes that are not measured routinely in pre- and post-operative settings are more common than the usual analyses of sodium and potassium.

Electrolytes including potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphate play significant roles in enzymatic and biochemical reactions, the regulation of cellular membrane potentials, energy transformation, neurotransmission, nerve signal conduction, hormone function, muscle contraction, cardiovascular role, bone composition, and fluid and acid–base regulation (1,2).

Acute and severe electrolyte imbalances can induce a wide variety of clinical disorders, such as severe arrhythmias and neuromuscular dysfunction and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality (3). The risk posed by these abnormalities increases significantly when more than one electrolyte is deficient, and the severity of the symptoms is commonly associated with the severity of the disorder and the rate at which the disorder progresses (2).

Changes in both fluid volume and electrolyte composition happen preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively (4). Postoperative surgery patients are prone to electrolyte changes probably because of the loss of blood and bodily fluids, the stress response to surgery, fasting before surgery, the inability of the patients to receive necessary nutrition after the operation of the jaws, anesthesia and surgical trauma, fluid replacement and/or use of diuretics, blood transfusion, and the underlying surgical disease (5,6).

Sodium plays a key role in maintaining fluid balance of the body and also influences the functioning of the bodily muscles and the central nervous system. This electrolyte is the most abundant in the blood plasma and plays a major role in maintaining water balance in the blood and tissues. Sodium disorders are associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality (7). Hyponatremia is one of the common electrolyte abnormalities defined as a serum sodium level of less than 135 mEq/L and hyponatremia is the most common postoperative electrolyte disorder caused by surgical stress (7,8).

Potassium disorders are common. Hypokalemia (serum potassium level less than 3.6 mEq/L) is reported up to 21% among hospitalized patients and 2 to 3% among outpatients. The most common disorder after hyponatremia is a hypokalemia, which causes problems such as arrhythmia and muscle weakness (9,10). Hyperkalemia (serum potassium level more than 5 mEq/L) occurs in up to 10% of hospitalized patients and approximately 1% of outpatients. Hyperkalemia occurs commonly in hospitalized patients and is of particular concern for those who have undergone surgery, with postoperative care provided by clinicians of many disciplines (10,11).

Magnesium is one of the most common co-factors and is crucial to more than 300 enzyme-driven biochemical reactions in the body. Normal magnesium levels are between 1.8–2.5 mg/dL, with levels less than 1.8 mg/dL defining hypomagnesemia (12,13). Hypomagnesemia is commonly found in current medical practice mainly in critically ill and postoperative patients. Clinical symptoms of hypomagnesemia include neuromuscular, neurologic, psychiatric, and cardiac disorders, which may significantly increase the morbidity of such patients (13).

Postoperative hypocalcemia has been reported in a population of healthy patients undergoing surgery. The patients who receive massive blood transfusion during an acute surgical crisis are at risk of developing hypocalcemia (14).

Considering the importance of electrolytes and the role of surgery in causing electrolyte imbalance in the body, the aim of this study was to evaluate electrolyte disturbances (potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium) among the patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery in which the oral intake of nutrition by the patient was directly or indirectly affected.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate electrolyte disturbances (potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium) among the patients who had undergone maxillofacial surgery from November 2016 to May 2017.

Materials and Methods

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 101 patients, who had undergone maxillofacial surgery, were studied with a convenience sampling at Besat hospital, Hamadan, Iran.

The inclusion criteria were: 1) patients undergoing orthognathic surgery, open and closed mandibular fracture surgery, and open and closed maxillary fracture surgery, 2) patient hospitalized for ≥3 days, 3) oral nutrition of the patient directly or indirectly affected during the post-operation period.

Demographic information (e.g., age and gender), weight, height, body mass index (BMI), kinds of trauma, medication, comorbidity and clinical data were compiled for each patient.

Preoperative and postoperative sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were measured. Preoperative laboratory analysis was performed a day before surgery and postoperative analysis was done on days 1 and 3. Sodium (135–145 mEq/L), calcium (9–10.2 mg/dL), potassium (3.5–5.2 mEq/L), and magnesium (1.8–2.5 mg/dL) were considered normal. The incidence of pre-operative and post-operative hypomagnesemia, hypermagnesemia, Hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypercalcemia were measured. In the present study, whenever the laboratory test revealed an abnormal electrolyte results which could be harmful to the patient, the plasma electrolyte was corrected.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Frequency distribution tables were used to study electrolyte disturbances, as well as the decrease and increase of them on different days. The relationship between quantitative variables such as the BMI and surgical duration and sequential variables was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and the relationship between qualitative variables such as gender and surgical etiology with sequential variables was analyzed using the chi-square test.

Results

The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 54 years (mean age=42.31 ± 1.9); 68 patients (67.3%) were male and 33 (32.7%) were female.

Eleven different maxillofacial surgical procedures had been performed on 101 patients. Among the 11 maxillofacial surgeries, the predominant ones were open mandibular fractures and complex mandibular fractures (27 and 23%, respectively) (Figure 1).

Close

Figure 1.

Frequency Distribution of Different Maxillofacial Surgical Procedures Among 101 Patients. Abbreviations: Man, mandibular; Max, maxillary.

Figure 1.

Frequency Distribution of Different Maxillofacial Surgical Procedures Among 101 Patients. Abbreviations: Man, mandibular; Max, maxillary.

Electrolyte imbalances were evaluated in 11 maxillofacial surgical procedures and the frequency of electrolyte imbalance was compared among the 11 maxillofacial surgical procedures, indicating no significant correlation between them (Table 1).

The frequency of electrolyte imbalance among preoperative and postoperative maxillofacial surgery patients are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

Hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, and hypermagnesemia were more common in the maxillofacial surgery patients in preoperative and postoperative settings. To evaluate the effects of surgical procedures on the electrolyte panel, we excluded samples that had preoperative electrolyte abnormalities. Our results showed that, among electrolyte imbalances, hypocalcemia was the most frequent with 26.3%, followed by hyponatremia with 18.7%, and hypermagnesemia with 16.6%, while potassium demonstrated the least amount of change (6.3%) after maxillofacial surgery.

The correlation between electrolyte imbalances (hypo or hyper) and the BMI were evaluated using Spearman correlation coefficient test (Table 4). The results showed a significant correlation between magnesium imbalances and the BMI on the third postoperative day and calcium on the third preoperative day. The results also indicated that a low BMI is associated with magnesium and calcium imbalances on third post-operative day (P < 0.05) (Table 4). Another finding was that patients with hypernatremia and hypercalcemia on first post-operative day had greater BMI (Table 5).

Discussion

The inorganic electrolytes are important components of body fluid as they play a crucial role in cellular function and survival, excitability of tissues, regulating fluid balance, acid base equilibrium, and many mechanisms associated with life (15). Abnormalities of fluid and electrolyte are very common in patients undergoing surgical procedures. These abnormalities can range from mild, readily correctable deviations to life-threatening ones that demand immediate attention (16). The management of electrolyte imbalances is critical for a comprehensive care of surgical patients. The goal of the postoperative assessment was to confirm proper healing and eliminate complications (16).

Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate electrolyte disturbance (potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium) among the patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery in which the oral nutrition of the patient was directly or indirectly affected.

This study was performed on 101 patients at Beasat hospital in Hamadan, Iran, who had undergone maxillofacial surgery. The frequency of electrolyte imbalances of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium one day preoperative and three days postoperative were evaluated. The relationship between electrolyte imbalances and BMI, gender, type of etiology, and type of surgery were also assessed.

Our results show that, among electrolyte imbalances, hypocalcemia had the highest frequency (26.3%), followed by hyponatremia (18.7%), and hypermagnesemia (16.6%), while potassium showed the least changes (6.3%) after maxillofacial surgery.

This result was contrary to the results obtained by El-Sherif and Turitto in 2011 (17) and Gennari in 2002 (18) in which hypokalemia was the most common electrolyte abnormality encountered in hospitalized patients.

In a study by Reza Masouleh et al in 2016 (9), electrolyte disorders were evaluated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The results showed that hyponatremia was the most common electrolyte imbalance with 16.7%, followed by hypokalemia with 14.2%. These results are somewhat consistent with our findings regarding postoperative sodium abnormality, but the frequency of hypokalemia was greater compared to our study. This difference could be due to the type of surgery and age of the patients participated in this study.

In a study by Polderman and Girbes in 2004 (1), electrolyte disorders following cardiac surgery were investigated. The results of this study revealed that, after an open heart surgery, 88% of patients showed at least one type of electrolyte disorder. Hypomagnesaemia had the highest frequency, followed by hypocalcemia in the second place among disorders. The results of this study are consistent with our study in term of the occurrence of calcium and magnesium disturbance and the association of these two disorders with each other. However, in our study, the magnesium disturbance was more of an increasing type.

The effect of the BMI on postoperative complications has been assayed in several prior studies. Many studies have shown that there is no statistically significant association between obesity and post-operative complications (19-21). However, they found that obese patients undergoing a surgery were at significantly higher risk of complications (22,23). In the present study, there was a significant correlation between sodium imbalances as hypernatremia on the first day after the operation, and calcium imbalances as hypercalcemia preoperative and third day postoperative with the BMI.

Since the present study was performed within 1 year, we were not able to reach ideal sample size. Consequently, association between electrolyte imbalances and some variables like type of maxillofacial surgery was not accurately evaluated. Because there were discrepancies in the patients’ gender and etiology (trauma, dentofacial deformity and so on), we could not offer correct interpretation about correlation between electrolyte discrepancies and these two variables.

Conclusions

Hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, and hypermagnesemia are relatively common after maxillofacial surgeries. We found that imbalances of calcium and magnesium, two electrolytes that are not measured routinely in pre- and post-operative settings, are more common than the usual analyses of sodium and potassium. Moreover, the findings showed that some factors such as the BMI and kind of maxillofacial surgery could affect electrolyte abnormalities after maxillofacial surgery. BMI above normal limits and jaw trauma could be considered as risk factors and identifying these factors could be useful in planning for prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment of possible complications, which, in turn, may result in an improvement in the quality of care.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Acknowledgments

This study has been supported by the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences as the thesis of Zohre Mousavie.

Ethical Statement

The present study was approved by Ethics Committee of the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.13950244).

Authors’ Contributions

OS developed the concept of the study and contributed to the supervision of the project and revision of the paper. ZM contributed to literature search, data collection, and draft writing. MST did the statistical analysis. SMMS controlled hospital checklist and prepared the manuscript. All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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