Evaluating the frequency rate of hypomagnesemia in critically ill pediatric patients by using multiple regression analysis and a computer-based neural network

Abstract

Hypomagnesemia is not uncommon (11%) in critically ill pediatric patients, but is very common (72%) in patients admitted after surgery for spinal fusion or craniofacial reconstruction. Patients who undergo surgery for correction of scoliosis and craniofacial anomalies should have serum magnesium levels monitored closely after surgery. In other patients, a neural network or multiple regression model could help predict which patients would be at risk of developing hypomagnesemia, thereby focusing testing on patients likely to benefit from such testing.