Suspected Malignant Hyperthermia and the Application of a Multidisciplinary Response
Laura Ebbitt1, Eric Johnson1, Brooke Herndon1
1Department of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Purpose:
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a critical and potentially life-threatening emergency associated with inhaled anesthetic and depolarizing neuromuscular blocker administration. This is a single center's response to MH.
Summary:
When signs of MH are observed, a page for "anesthesia STAT-MH crisis" is called, triggering a multidisciplinary response, including the deployment of a Malignant Hyperthermia Cart. The MH cart and the delegation of duties allows nurses, physicians and pharmacists to quickly understand their role in the stabilization, transition and recovery of a suspected MH patient.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of multi-disciplinary involvement in these rare, but potentially fatal, cases.
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