Intravenous magnesium is primarily used to correct which arrhythmia?

Intravenous magnesium is primarily indicated for the treatment of torsades de pointes, a specific type of ventricular tachycardia characterized by a polymorphic pattern on the ECG. This arrhythmia is often associated with a prolonged QT interval, which can lead to a potentially life-threatening situation. Magnesium plays a critical role in stabilizing cellular excitability and can help in terminating or preventing torsades de pointes, making it the preferred therapy in this context.

Torsades de pointes can occur in patients with certain electrolyte imbalances, particularly low magnesium levels. Administering intravenous magnesium can help replenish levels and mitigate the risk of recurrent episodes, thereby addressing the underlying cause of this arrhythmia more effectively than treatments targeted at other types of arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, which have different management strategies.