Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but potentially fatal reaction triggered by commonly used anesthetics and muscle relaxants. It causes a hypermetabolic state that can lead to complications like cardiac arrest, organ failure, and death. Dantrolene is the primary treatment for malignant hyperthermia. As a skeletal muscle relaxant, it acts on calcium channels to reverse the effects of the triggering agents. Hospitals should have at least 36 vials of dantrolene available when using such agents. When treating malignant hyperthermia, nurses must quickly obtain the dantrolene cart and reconstitute the vials to rapidly administer the medication via IV push.
2. What is Malignant Hyperthermia?
Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but deadly
hypermetabolic event triggered by commonly
used anesthetics and the paralyzing agent
succinylcholine.
Complications include cardiac arrest, brain
damage, internal bleeding, organ system failure
and death, due to cardiovascular collapse.
3. Dantrolene
Dantrolene is THE drug for treatment of MH.
It acts as a skeletal muscle relaxant by acting
on calcium channels.
Dantrium and Revonto are name brands o the
generic dantrolene.
36 vials should be on hand when any trigger
agents are used.
4. The Role of the
Dantrolene Nurse
Obtain MH cart.
Start reconstituting Dantrolene by mixing each
vial with 60ml preservative-free sterile water.
Create a fluid path with short IV tubing and
stopcock for rapid mixing. Use spikes for rapid
injection into vial.
Deliver via rapid IV push.
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Editor's Notes
#3: Malignant Hyperthermia is a life threatening event triggered by specific anesthesia medications. It is an inherited disorder in which the rate of occurrence is debated, being as frequent as 1 in 5,000 or as rare as 1 in 65,000. Patients susceptible to MH have a defective calcium channel on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of their skeletal muscles. Symptoms arise from hypermetabolism of skeletal muscles as a result of uncontrolled release of calcium. Muscles contract, increasing metabolism, accompanied by massive oxygen consumption, production of carbon dioxide and excessive heat and ultimately resulting in cell membrane breakdown. The cascade event can happen quickly but is 100% reversible with rapid identification and treatment. Perioperative medical staff must be prepared for such a crisis with prevention as well as practice of treatment protocol.
#4: Dantrolene is the drug used for treating malignant hyperthermia. While there are other medications required during MH treatment, dantrolene is the key to reversing the cascade of events. Dantrolene suppresses the rise of calcium in muscles cells that trigger the MH response. Dantrolene must be given quickly and will continue to be given for up to 36 hours in the ICU if the patient survives the initial event.
#5: There are several key staff roles in the treatment of MH. One is that of the dantorlene nurse, which we will take a look at first. The dantrolene nurse is responsible for obtaining, mixing and the rapid push of the dantrolene. Dantrolene requires reconstitution with 60mls of sterile water and as many as 12 vials are needed for the initial treatment of a 200lb patient. Rapid treatment will continue until symptoms begin to subside. For quick organized delivery of the life saving medication, creation of a fluid path with a short IV tubing and stopcock along with large bore spikes to add the sterile water to the vials all help increase the rate of delivery. These supplies should part of the MH emergency supplies. Staff should practice creating the fluid path and reconstituting of the vials with expired supply of dantrolene as part of MH training.