Malignant hyperthermia syndrome: case report

Archivos argentinos de pediatría
Pedro TaffarelMarcelo Acerenza

Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia syndrome is a family myopathy of pharmacogenetic nature, which appears as a skeletal muscle hypercatabolic syndrome linked to anesthesia. The incidence in pediatrics is 1 event per 10 000 surgeries. The clinical picture may have a rapid onset associated with succinylcholine, or a late onset related to inhalation agents. The clinical picture includes tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypercapnia, acidosis, muscle rigidity, hyperkalemia, renal failure and arrhythmia. Mortality without specific treatment is of 80% and drops to 7% with the use of dantrolene sodium. We report an 8-year-old patient admitted for phimosis surgery; having tachycardia, hypercapnia and muscle rigidity, he started treatment with dantrolene sodium in the operating room, which was maintained for 72 hours. He evolved the first 12 hours with low cardiac output and creatine phosphokinase maximum of 155,147 U/L. He remained with mechanical ventilation for 48 hours. Discharge was given on the sixth day without sequelae.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly due to stroke and thromboembolism. Here is the latest research.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.