Word parts
What it means
An emergency that can happen during or soon after anesthesia in a person with an inherited muscle disorder. Inhaled anesthetic gases and succinylcholinesuk-sih-nil-KOH-leenA fast, short-acting drug that relaxes and paralyzes the muscles, used to place a breathing tube.Full entry set it off. Calcium floods the muscle cells, which then burn energy and make heat and carbon dioxide far faster than normal. It is treated with the drug dantroleneDAN-troh-leenA muscle relaxant that acts inside muscle cells, given by IV for malignant hyperthermia or by mouth for spasticity.Full entry , cooling and stopping the trigger drug.
For the nurse
Ask before surgery whether the client or any blood relative ever had a problem with anesthesia. In the operating room and recovery area, know where the malignant hyperthermia cart and dantrolene are kept. Early findings include a rising end-tidal carbon dioxide, a fast heart rate and stiff jaw muscles; fever often comes later.
In a chart
"Family history of malignant hyperthermia reported at pre-op interview; anesthesia notified."
At a glance
| Spanish | hipertermia maligna |
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Related terms
anesthesia
Loss of feeling or sensation, often brought on by drugs so that surgery or a procedure can be done without pain.
hyperthermia
A body temperature that is higher than normal because the body takes in or makes more heat than it can lose.
succinylcholine
A fast, short-acting drug that relaxes and paralyzes the muscles, used to place a breathing tube.
dantrolene
A muscle relaxant that acts inside muscle cells, given by IV for malignant hyperthermia or by mouth for spasticity.