MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Summary

Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to certain anesthesia drugs, affecting 1 in 5,000 to 50,000 patients. It is often caused by mutations in genes like RYR1 and can be inherited. Symptoms include high fever, muscle rigidity, and rapid heart rate. Diagnosis involves the CHCT test and genetic testing. Treatment with dantrolene, rapid cooling, and supportive care can reduce the risk of death from 75% to 5%.

Takeaways

• ⚠️ Malignant hyperthermia is a severe reaction to certain anesthetic drugs used in surgery.
• 👥 People with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility usually appear normal until exposed to triggering agents.
• ❌ Malignant hyperthermia occurs in 1 in 5,000 to 50,000 cases upon exposure to anesthesia.
• ⚰️ Without treatment, the fatality rate is about 75%, but with treatment, it is reduced to 5%.
• 👨 Men are more likely to experience malignant hyperthermia than women.
• 🔬 The main cause of malignant hyperthermia is exposure to volatile anesthetics like halothane or muscle relaxants like succinylcholine.
• 🧬 Susceptibility is often caused by mutations in genes, with the RYR1 gene mutation being the most common.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Physical stress or heat exposure can also trigger symptoms in susceptible individuals.
• 🧪 Diagnosis often involves testing muscle tissue response to caffeine and halothane, or genetic testing.
• 💉 Treatment includes administering dantrolene, cooling the patient, and discontinuing triggering agents.

Q & A

What is malignant hyperthermia?

Malignant hyperthermia is a severe reaction to certain drugs used as anesthesia for surgery and other invasive procedures.

Who is at increased risk for malignant hyperthermia?

People with a malignant hyperthermia susceptibility are at increased risk.

How often does malignant hyperthermia occur?

It occurs in one in 5,000 to 50,000 cases on exposure to anesthetic gases.

What is the fatality rate without proper treatment?

Without treatment, the complication of malignant hyperthermia can be fatal with a risk of death about 75%.

Who is more likely to experience malignant hyperthermia, men or women?

Men are more likely to have an episode than women.

What causes malignant hyperthermia?

The cause is exposure to volatile anesthetics such as halothane and depolarizing muscle relaxant such as Sesenta choline in those who are susceptible.

How many forms of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility have been identified?

Researchers have identified at least six forms of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility caused by different gene mutations.

What is the most common gene mutation associated with malignant hyperthermia?

The most common is a mutation in the ry RI gene, which is responsible for a form of the condition known as MH s one.

How is malignant hyperthermia susceptibility inherited?

Susceptibility is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, meaning only one copy of the mutant gene is necessary for an individual to inherit the disorder.

What are the symptoms of malignant hyperthermia?

Symptoms include a very high temperature, muscle rigidity, rhabdomyolysis, a rapid heart rate, abnormally rapid breathing, acidosis, and increased carbon dioxide production.

How is malignant hyperthermia diagnosed?

Diagnosis is suspected by the appearance of typical symptoms following anesthesia administration. The standard procedure is the caffeine halothane contracture test (CHCT), which measures the response of muscle tissue to caffeine and halothane.

What is the treatment for malignant hyperthermia?

Treatment options include intravenous administration of dantrolene, rapid cooling, discontinuation of triggering events, and supportive therapy directed at correcting organ dysfunction and acidosis.