[Early recognition of malignant hyperthermia using capnometry]

Although malignant hyperthermia is still a potentially fatal disease that was marked by a high mortality until recently, lasting damage to the patient can now be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment. The following case demonstrates the special value of capnometry in diagnosing this condition. A 34-year-old man admitted for oral surgery showed symptoms of malignant hyperthermia 5 h after induction of anesthesia. Neuroleptanalgesia had been conducted. The patient had received thiopental and fentanyl for induction of anesthesia and alcuronium and succinylcholine for intubation. The first symptom noticed was an elevation of the end-tidal pCO2 as monitored by capnometry. Additional symptoms, such as a pronounced rise in temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate did not develop until 20-25 min later. The end-tidal oxygen concentration decreased from 30 vol.-% to 26 vol.-%. The patient had to be ventilated with a volume of 25 l/min to keep end-tidal pCO2 under 6 kPa. Treatment with dantrolene was started immediately. Not until 3 h after the onset of the first symptoms did the patient's body temperature and the minute volume needed for ventilation return to normal. Postoperative laboratory findings showed only a slight elevation of creatine kinase and serum lactate. Myoglobin was not detected in serum or urine. This case indicates that capnometry permitted immediate adaptation of controlled ventilation to the patient's increased metabolic rate and early initiation of dantrolene treatment, thus preventing more severe disorders and possible consequences for the patient. Other studies have also suggested the special importance of capnometry. Since the patient refused to give his consent, the diagnosis could not be ascertained by muscle biopsy, and had to be based on symptoms.