TENS-induced pain control in a malignant hyperthermia-susceptible patient

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a severe and often fatal disease that is triggered by exposure to the neuromuscular blocking drug succinylcholine and/or volatile general anesthetics (eg, halothane). Although all local anesthetics are now considered to be safe in malignant hyperthermia patients, some individuals still prefer not to use amide-type anesthetics. Here we report a case of a MH-susceptible patient who successfully received restorative dental treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. We suggest that this may be a safe alternative to consider in patients who have an aversion to chemical anesthetic agents.