Malignant hyperthermia: case report

The incidence of malignant hyperthermia (MH) children is much higher than in adults. The management of children during dental treatment may require general anesthesia. Better understanding of the disease helps to detect the susceptible cases, make an early diagnosis, give eFFective treatment, and minimize the mortality and morbidity. The management of an acute hyperthermic crisis during surgery is reported. The crisis was aborted mainly by intravenous dantrolene sodium. The patient recovered completely. Malignant hyperthermia, a disease of pharmaco- genetic origin, can have a fatal outcome. Increase in core body temperature, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle rigidity, metabolic acidosis, and elevated serum enzymes are characteristics. ~ The disease usually is encountered dur- ing the administration of general anesthesia. 2 Unless life saving measures are initiated during an episode, the patient's survival is doubtful. Dentists who administer general and local anesthesia and those who admit pa- tients for treatment in hospital operating rooms should be familiar with the signs and treatment of this disease.