Management of malignant hyperthermia: diagnosis and treatment
Daniel Schneiderbanger1, Stephan Johannsen1, Norbert Roewer1
1Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Malignant hyperthermia is a potentially lethal inherited disorder characterized by disturbance of calcium homeostasis in skeletal muscle. Volatile anesthetics and/or the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine may induce this hypermetabolic muscular syndrome due to uncontrolled sarcoplasmic calcium release via functionally altered calcium release receptors, resulting in hypoxemia, hypercapnia, tachycardia, muscular rigidity, acidosis, hyperkalemia, and hyperthermia in susceptible individuals. Since the clinical presentation of malignant hyperthermia is highly variable, survival of affected patients depends largely on early recognition of the symptoms characteristic of malignant hyperthermia, and immediate action on the part of the attending anesthesiologist. Clinical symptoms of malignant hyperthermia, diagnostic criteria, and current therapeutic guidelines, as well as adequate management of anesthesia in patients susceptible to malignant hyperthermia, are discussed in this review.
Related Concept Videos
Increased Body Temperature
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Decreased Body Temperature
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses
Types of Fever
Here are the different types of fever:


