Malignant hyperthermia

Malignant hyperthermia of anesthesia is a severe complication and must be treated vigorously. The anesthetic should be stopped and the core body temperature reduced. Systemic complications must be anticipated, hopefully prevented, and appropriately treated. Appropriate laboratory studies must be obtained. A comprehensive family survey may alert the physician to a tendency toward this problem. Temperature monitoring during surgery may give an early warning of malignant hyperthermia developing. I would suggest that routine temperature monitoring during surgery be considered by the anesthesia department during each general anesthetic administration.