TY - JOUR ID - TI - Estimation of Ionized Calcium Concentration in Critically Ill Patients AU - Ali Sh. Saadoon*, Faez A. Mahdi**, Samad M. Ahmad* PY - 2016 VL - 15 IS - 2 SP - 247 EP - 250 JO - Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal المجلة العراقية للاختصاصات الطبية SN - 83601608 98932708 AB - ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND:Hypocalcaemia is a commonly encountered problem in critically ill patients, and it has been shown to correlate with increased ICU stay and mortality. OBJECTIVE:This study is to estimate serum ionized calcium level and to evaluate whether calcium adjusted for albumin accurately predicts ionized calcium concentrations. PATIENT AND METHOD: Cross sectional study conducted to 47 randomly selected adult patients admitted in Baghdad teaching hospital/ ICU from June 2014-october 2014. Ionized Ca level was determined using ion-specific electrode methodology, on heparinised plasma. The total Ca concentration was adjusted for serum Albumin. RESULTS: From total 47 patients, 40 patients were showed low serum calcium level (mean 6.79 mg/dl), and 28 were showed low corrected s.calcium (mean 7.77 mg/dl).Low serum albumin was independently associated with hypocalcaemia on admission. 30 patients (63.83%) reported low total S. alb. mean s. albumin where 2.8mmol. .

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