Sodium, potassium and calcium analysis by means of electrical bioimpedance in patients with ischemic heart disease and coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Heart diseases lead Cuban health statistics as one of the main causes of death with predominance of ischemic heart disease. Traditionally, in Cuba the plasma electrolyte concentrations is determined by standardized ions and blood gases analysis. But there are other methods such as electric bioimpedance which measures the total amount of main ions of organic liquids, and provides more real information about the concentrations of these electrolytes in the human body. Objective: To determine the values of total exchangeable body sodium and potassium electrolytes by bioelectrical impedance before and on the seventh day of surgery, and compare them with a reference population. Method: A longitudinal and prospective study was carried out with 42 patients aged 40 and over with ischemic heart disease, from both sexes, treated with coronary artery bypass grafting without extracorporeal circulation at the “Centro Territorial de Cirugía Cardiovascular de Santiago de Cuba” in the first four months of 2015. Bioimpedance measurements were made at 50 kHz, using the right-sided tetrapolar method. The parameters were studied according to sex, age groups and electrolyte values. Results: A decrease in interchangeable sodium (2984.98±426.3 vs. 3349.7±805.0 mmol) and potassium (3076.75±265.06 vs. 3251.3±593.85 mmol) was found before surgery. In the postoperative period, the values obtained for exchangeable sodium (3097.5±447.29 mmol, p<0.05) were statistically significant. Conclusions: Before and after surgery, the electrolytes studied showed values below the standards, although this variation was not always significant.