Malignant hyperthermia is a condition that’s often triggered by certain anesthesia drugs and can be life threatening.
The condition impacts an
This article will provide information you can take with you to your doctor’s visits to discuss how to treat malignant hyperthermia.
Malignant hyperthermia is typically triggered by drugs used as part of the anesthesia process during a surgical procedure.
If signs of malignant hyperthermia occur during surgery while under anesthesia, your doctor will begin administering oxygen and a drug called
Before anesthesia begins, certain measures are taken to make it easy to quickly treat malignant hyperthermia should it arise. This includes setting up monitoring for:
- carbon dioxide levels
- blood oxygen levels
- core body temperature
The operating room will also have processes in place like hypothermia blankets or cold IV fluids to quickly cool the patient.
As soon as signs of malignant hyperthermia like elevated temperature, increased heart rate, rapid production of carbon dioxide, and muscle or jaw rigidity are noticed, the surgeon is notified so that they should end the surgery as soon as possible.
If the procedure is taking place in a surgical center and not a hospital, emergency help will be called.
Use of the triggering drugs will immediately be stopped, and extra oxygen will be supplied through a mask or tube. Dantrolene, the only FDA-cleared medication for treating malignant hyperthermia, will be given to the individual.
Dantrolene is a skeletal muscle relaxant that acts by directly interfering with the release of calcium. During a malignant hyperthermia reaction, it’s believed that triggering agents impact the skeletal muscle cells elevating myoplasmic calcium. Dantrolene is thought to prevent or reduce this calcium release.
After stopping the triggering drugs and administering dantrolene, medical staff will treat any of the symptoms or complications that have arisen from the malignant hyperthermia. Some examples of complications that may need to be addressed include:
- extremely high body temperatures
- trouble breathing
- irregular heart rhythms
Treatment for symptoms and complications might include:
- using cold IV fluids and ice packs to cool the body from high fever
- giving additional oxygen through a tube or mask
- offering medications to treat an irregular heartbeat
Once the affected individual is stable, they will typically be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) for at least a day for monitoring. Additional tests will be run in the ICU.
Afterward, the healthcare professional is encouraged to also report the episode to the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Registry of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS). The individual should wear a medical alert bracelet to notify emergency healthcare professionals of this condition.
After experiencing malignant hyperthermia, it’s important for the individual and their genetic relatives to be educated on malignant hyperthermia. This can help them make decisions about genetic testing and better understand other potential triggers like strenuous workouts in extremely hot, humid environments.
Malignant hyperthermia is a life threatening condition that needs to be treated immediately. If left untreated, it can lead to:
- cardiac arrest
- brain damage
- internal bleeding
- failure of other body systems, including the kidneys and liver
- muscle damage
- seizures
- coma
If malignant hyperthermia is left untreated, there is also a possibility of death.
Symptoms of malignant hyperthermia can vary depending on the individual. Age can be one of the factors that determines which symptoms present and to what degree. As a result, a child may present different combinations of symptoms than an adult experiencing malignant hyperthermia.
Regardless of age, once signs of malignant hyperthermia are identified, it’s important for the surgical team to stop use of the triggering drugs, administer dantrolene, and treat any complications or symptoms that malignant hyperthermia has brought on.
At this point, age may play a role in treating symptoms and complications. For example, certain medications like those used in the treatment of heart irregularities may not be approved for small children or require different dosages for younger individuals, so age may play a role in how specific symptoms are handled after malignant hyperthermia is addressed.
Malignant hyperthermia is a potentially life threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. Treating this condition includes stopping use of the triggering drugs, administering dantrolene, and addressing any complications or symptoms brought on by the malignant hyperthermia.
Malignant hyperthermia typically occurs during a medical procedure while a person is under general anesthesia, so there are usually medical professionals available to take action the moment symptoms appear, which is very important.