Malignant hyperthermia during cesarean section: A case report

Lee, Won Jae; Lee, Jung Sam

Case Report

Neuromuscular Physiology and Pharmacology

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2011;6(1):79-84.
Published online January 31, 2011.

Malignant hyperthermia during cesarean section: A case report

Won Jae Lee, Jung Sam Lee

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Busan, Korea. nonpain@paran.com

Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia is manifestated in susceptible individuals exposed to triggering drugs, such as depolarizing muscle relaxants and inhalational anesthetics. Various musculoskeletal abnormalities, such as scoliosis, hernias and strabismus, have been associated with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. During cesarean section of the patient who had undergone scoliosis correction surgery, we experienced malingnant hyperthermia due to succinylcholine and inhalation anesthetics. In our case, as soon as we suspected the episode, all anesthetics were stopped and anesthetic machines were changed to unexposed anesthetic machine for inhalational anesthetics. Dantrolene was given intravenously and the patient was cooled by tepid sponging, cooled fluids. The patient recovered normal temperature and consciousness without any complications.

Key Words: Anesthetic machine change, Cesarean section, Malignant hyperthermia, Scoliosis