Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but life-threatening surgical complication that seems to turn the effects of general anesthesia upside down. Instead of relaxing, muscles become rigid, releasing large amounts of acid and potassium into the blood. Instead of a normal slowing of breathing, respirations quicken, and end-tidal CO2 rises.…

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Editor's Note This study found no cost benefit to maintaining a fully stocked malignant hyperthermia (MH) cart with a full supply of dantrolene in maternity units, where triggering agents are rarely used. Maintaining an MH cart in every maternity unit in the US would reduce morbidity and mortality costs by…

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The rare but very serious condition of malignant hyperthermia (MH) remains a risk at all surgical facilities, including ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). MH occurs in about one in 50,000 adults under anesthesia, and one in about 12,000 children, which translates to one or two deaths annually in the United States.…

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Editor's Note The prevalence of malignant hyperthermia (MH) in ambulatory surgery center (ASC) patients in New York state is approximately 1 per 500,000 and varies with surgical procedures, this study finds. Analyzing New York State Ambulatory Surgery Dataset data from 2002 to 2011, researchers found 31 of nearly 18 million…

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Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a genetic skeletal muscle disorder that is incited by anesthesia drugs including succinlycholine and inhaled anesthetic agents (Gurunluoglu et al, 2009; Hopkins, 2011; Kim et al, 2011). The disorder is particularly dangerous because it rapidly develops into a hypermetabolic state resulting in hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, and intense…

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Malignant hyperthermia hotline 1-800-644-9737 Outside the US: 1-315-464-7079 Download a sample MH emergency therapy poster at http://medical.mhaus.org When malignant hyperthermia (MH) surfaces in an ambulatory surgery setting, minutes count—the patient needs to be stabilized immediately and transferred to a hospital. But will the ambulance service have the right equipment and…

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The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States has introduced a new training kit to help OR staff better prepare for MH emergencies. The kit includes a 22-minute video of a mock drill and cards that detail how to prepare for a drill and specific responsibilities of participants. The kit…

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MH crisis management For live help, call the MH hotline: 1-800-MH-HYPER (1-800-644-9737)in US and Canada Other resources available: Emergency therapy poster Anesthetic choices for MH-susceptible patients Frequently asked questions, and more. Contact Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States. www.mhaus.org Suddenly, the word is out that surgery centers and other…

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