The use of magnesium sulphate in the intensive care management of an Asian patient with tetanus.

Tetanus, a potentially fatal but largely preventable disease through immunisation, is rare in Singapore. Timely diagnosis and appropriate intensive care management is essential to ensure survival. We aim to report the management of such a patient with magnesium sulphate. This has not been reported locally. By maintaining serum magnesium at 3 to 4 mmol/l we were able to control sympathetic overactivity by day 6, stop neuromuscular blockade by day 7 and wean off ventilator by day 11. Aminoglycoside-induced hypomagnesemia was also demonstrated, necessitating an increase in magnesium sulphate infusion rate to maintain serum magnesium at therapeutic level.