[Malignant hyperthermia following an old gunshot head injury]

A case of symptomatic malignant hyperthermia is reported involving a 35-year-old man who suffered a serious cerebral injury after a gunshot to the head and who died from hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C) and tachycardia 1.5 days after dental treatment under general anesthesia. The sceletal muscles did not show any changes that would indicate a myopathy, the CPL value was normal, there was also no familial factor in this case. It is taken as an opportunity here to point out that such a case must not end fatally since there is a drug on the market in the meantime (Dantrolen) which is to be administered i.v. This medication acts causally on the membrane disturbances (release of calcium ions by appropriate trigger substances) which are the underlying cause of the malignant hyperthermia.