Operating room nurses' knowledge of malignant hyperthermia and its management in Türkiye: A national cross-sectional study

Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening perioperative emergency requiring prompt recognition and coordinated management. This national cross-sectional study evaluated operating room nurses' knowledge of malignant hyperthermia and its management in Türkiye and examined factors associated with knowledge.

Operating room nurses working in public, training and research, university and private hospitals completed an online questionnaire comprising demographic and professional characteristics and a 20-item knowledge test.

Knowledge was stronger for clinical manifestations, treatment principles, post-dantrolene monitoring and the importance of written protocols, whereas gaps were concentrated in crisis management, cooling measures and multidisciplinary team responsibilities. Previous malignant hyperthermia education was associated with greater knowledge, while professional experience alone was not.

Targeted continuing education, multidisciplinary simulation and accessible institutional protocols may strengthen preparedness for malignant hyperthermia crises.