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Malignant hyperthermia: a potentially fatal complication of anesthesia

C Stolworthy1, R E Haas

  • 1Nurse Anesthesia Program, Medical College of Georgia, USA.

Seminars in Perioperative Nursing
|March 25, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare, inherited disorder triggered by anesthesia. Understanding dantrolene

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an uncommon, inherited disorder.
  • Anesthetic drugs, specifically volatile agents and succinylcholine, can trigger MH.
  • MH can lead to anesthetic-induced death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the critical need for perianesthesia staff to understand MH.
  • To highlight the importance of knowing dantrolene's properties for MH management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of anesthetic agents and their triggers for MH.
  • Examination of succinylcholine's role as a depolarizing muscle relaxant.
  • Analysis of dantrolene's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile.

Main Results:

  • Dantrolene is the sole effective agent for MH treatment and prophylaxis.
  • Familiarity with dantrolene is essential for perianesthesia staff.

Conclusions:

  • Perianesthesia staff must be knowledgeable about malignant hyperthermia.
  • Understanding dantrolene's properties is crucial for managing and preventing MH effectively.

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