Nursing interventions for patients with Malignant Hyperthermia in the perioperative setting: a scoping review

To map nursing interventions described in the literature for the prevention and control of Malignant Hyperthermia in the perioperative setting.

A scoping review conducted according to the JBI methodology. The search was conducted in the following databases: Virtual Health Library, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Embase, Cochrane, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science. Additionally, an exploratory search and gray literature search were conducted.

Fifteen documents were analyzed. Nursing interventions were identified and structured in three phases: (1) Prevention: risk assessment through anesthetic and family history and genograms; (2) Crisis control: diagnostic confirmation, activation of telephone support, clinical stabilization, preparation and administration of dantrolene; (3) Post-crisis: safe transport to the Intensive Care Unit and notification of the adverse event. Coordinated multidisciplinary team action was reported in all phases.

A comprehensive set of nursing interventions for the prevention, control, and post-crisis management of Malignant Hyperthermia in the perioperative period was mapped, providing evidence for the implementation of care protocols.