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Effects of Hypocalcemia
- Hypocalcemia mainly affects neuromuscular excitation and cardiovascular function.
- It can cause seizures, anxiety, tetany, hypotension, and arrhythmias including torsades de pointes.
Calcium and ECG Changes
- Calcium level inversely correlates with the ST segment duration on ECG.
- Hypocalcemia leads to prolonged ST segment and QT interval, potentially causing torsades de pointes.
Calcium Testing Strategy
- Check calcium on ICU admission or when there is clinical suspicion like massive transfusion or seizures.
- Avoid routine daily calcium testing in ICU to prevent unnecessary treatment and costs.