Magnesium in cardiac arrest (the magic trial).

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Magnesium in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The prognosis of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is dismal.

A prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled trial was conducted at the emergency department (ED) of Royal Perth Hospital, a University teaching hospital.

Who Took Part

The study group was 67 patients.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

Because people in this Magnesium study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

As a double-blind Magnesium study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Magnesium could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

Study endpoints were: (1) ECG rhythm 2 min after the trial drug; (2) return of spontaneous circulation; (3) survival to leave the ED; (4) survival to leave intensive care; and (5) survival to hospital discharge.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Blood Circulation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Critical Care, Electric Countershock, Electrocardiography, Emergency Service, Hospital and Heart Arrest.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Magnesium in 67 patients.

The publication is from 1997 (Resuscitation), a journal based in Ireland.

More context: the related Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc library page, all human trials.