A fatal case of malignant hyperthermia complicated by generalized compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis.
A healthy 21-year-old male who had previously been anaesthetized without complications underwent a laparotomy following a skiing accident. He developed severe malignant hyperthermia. The initial reaction was successfully treated with dantrolene, but during the following days the patient developed several compartment syndromes requiring fasciotomies. The patient died of hyperkalaemia in spite of continuous dialysis. We present a detailed description of the case and also discuss the role of propofol and rhabdomyolysis.
Green
G
G
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Ostersund Hospital, Ostersund, Sweden. gunnar.green@jll.se
D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000150:complications; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000150:complications*; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000150:complications*
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D003620:Dantrolene; D015742:Propofol