Magnesium Sulfate for Analgesia in Pediatric Transplant

The post-operative ICU course for children receiving liver transplants and TPIAT (total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation) includes a number of different challenges, one of which includes pain. Pain is treated with both medications and approaches without medications (such as music and other distraction techniques). Opioids are one such effective pain medication which is universally used, however like all medications has risks of certain side effects (such as nausea, constipation, itching, and others). Modern research has searched for other medications and methods to treat pain in both children and adults. In this study, the investigators aim to apply one of these methods that has been shown to be effective in certain operative populations through a medicine called Magnesium-Sulfate, which may be a safe way to decrease the use of other pain medications (specifically opioids). Magnesium is already a physiologic electrolyte the body uses, which are consumed from certain foods. Used as an IV medication to reach higher levels of magnesium can work to decrease pain via its action on specific nerve receptors. Magnesium-Sulfate will be given at the beginning of transplant surgery for consented liver and TPIAT transplant patients, and continue an infusion for 48 hours into their ICU course. The investigators will monitor side effects and treat pain the same way otherwise the care team would without magnesium to determine whether there is any beneficial effect that can be applied to children in the future.

Inclusion criteria

Experimental Group:

• Be scheduled for and receive a liver transplant or total pancreatectomy and islet cell autotransplantation

Control Group:

• Received a liver transplant or total pancreatectomy and islet cell autotransplantation.

Exclusion criteria

Experimental Group:

• Pregnant or unwilling to abstain from sex if not practicing birth control during participation in the study.
• Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
• Known allergic reactions to components of the MgSO4
• History of heart block or myasthenia graves in past medical history.
• Presence of cardiac pacemaker
• Any patient with preoperative creatinine level > 1.5x upper limit of normal.

Control Group:

• Any patient who had filed as research-exempt (opt-out of research previously).
• Any patient with preoperative creatinine level > 1.5x upper limit of normal.