Previous prospective studies done abroad recommend rhe use of magnesium sulfare in rhe control of spasms and amonomic dysfuncrion in teranus. The use of magnesium sulfate in reran us is attractive as it is cheap and easily ritrable.

This study aims to determine whether the use of magnesium sttlfate among the tetanus parients admitred from January 2005 to August 2007 in a tertiary hospital is correlated to the need for mechanical venrilarion, rhe development of dysauronomia, the duration of hospital sray and the outcome (death or recovery).

This is a retrospective chart review of all the tetanus cases seen at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital from January 2005 to August 2007. All patients admitted for tetanus were included. Descriprive sratisrics were done on age, sex, disease severiry, presence of tracheostomy, use of magnesium sulfate, need for ventilato1y support, development of dysautonomia and durarion of hospiral stay and ourcome (whether recovered or expired). Correlation berween the use of magnesium sulfate and these variables were reseed using Pearson's coefficient of correlarion, using SPSS 1 5.0.

Twenty-seven cases of reran us were seen from January 2005 to August 2007. Majoriry of the patients were males, on stage 2 and had wounds on the lower exrremiry prior to the development of symptoms. Most underwent prophylactic tracheostomy, were placed on IV MgSO4 and needed mechanical ventilation. Half developed dysautonomia; 77% recovered. The mean hospital stay was 18 days. There was poor correlation between MgSO4 therapy, the need for mechanical ventilation, and the development of dysautonomia.and outcome. There is a weak positive correlation between MgSO4 use and the length of hospital stay (Pearson 0.489). The stage at admission is weakly negatively correlated with the duration ofhospical sray.

MgSO4 therapy is poorly associated with the need for mechanical ventilation, development of dysautonomia, and outcome. It is weakly positively associated with the duration of hospital stay.

A randomized trial comparing MgSO4 + benzodiazepine and benzodiazepine alone in the management of tetanus is recommended to ensure chat the temporal relationship between MgSO4 and treatment outcomes are more adequately studied.