Magnesium and Esophageal Pain After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy of the Esophagus: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Postoperative esophageal pain occurs in 67% of patients after peroral endoscopic esophageal myotomy (POEM). Magnesium can act as a smooth muscle relaxant. This study investigated whether intraoperative magnesium can reduce postoperative esophageal pain in patients undergoing POEM.

METHODS

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 92 patients were randomized to receive either magnesium sulfate as a 50 mg.kg -1 (total body weight) bolus followed by an infusion at 25 mg.kg -1 .hr -1 , or 0.9% saline. Intraoperative analgesia was standardized in all patients. The primary outcome was the score from a validated, modified Esophageal Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Pain scores, opioid requirements, and questionnaire scores were collected through postoperative day 1.

RESULTS

ESQ scores were significantly lower in the magnesium group in the PACU (median [25th-75th], 24 [18-31] vs 35 [28-42]; median difference [95% confidence interval, CI], 10 [6-13]; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (16 [14-23] vs 30 [24-35]; P < .0001). Less opioids were needed in the magnesium group in the PACU (mean ± standard deviation [SD] [99% CI], 4.7 ± 10 [1-9] mg vs 29 ± 21 [21-37] mg; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (1 ± 3.7 [0-2.5] mg vs 13 ± 23 [4-23] mg; P = .0009). Pain scores were lower in the magnesium group in the PACU (0 [0-3] vs 5 [5-7]; P < .0001) and on postoperative day 1 (0 [0-2] vs 4 [3-5]; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing POEM randomized to receive intraoperative magnesium had sustained reductions in esophageal discomfort severity and opioid requirements 24 hours after surgery.