Investigation of the effect of intravenous selenium on the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen and fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) and arterial blood gases in patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units

Abstract

Background: Because of the importance of antioxidant role of selenium as one of the components of selenoproteins, we designed this study to assess the effect of intravenous (IV) selenium with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, on the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen and fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2), and arterial blood gases in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical-trial study, 90 patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were selected and randomly divided into three groups. First group of patients received selenium 1000 μg daily; the second group received selenium 500 μg daily; and finally the third group did not received the drug as control group. Findings: There was no significant difference between the mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio in the first group (291.20 ± 28.60) with the second (291.63 ± 20.42) and the third (288.73 ± 20.77) groups (P = 0.50). The mean partial pressure of arterial oxygen was not also significantly different in the first group (95.90 ± 4.21) with the second (94.36 ± 5.18) and the third (94.46 ± 5.09) groups (P = 0.24). The average duration of extubation was not significantly different among the three groups (P = 0.16). Conclusion: Administration of intravenous selenium has no effect on the PaO2/FiO2 ratio as well as arterial blood gases, and also the duration of extubation in patients admitted to intensive care units. Furthermore, administration of intravenous selenium with no effect on respiratory parameters is not associated with hemodynamic changes in these patients. © 2018, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.