Orthotopic liver transplantation in a malignant hyperthermia susceptible patient.
We present a patient with hepatitis C and D and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent preoperative evaluation for orthotopic liver transplantation. In his past medical history, he reported a life-threatening event during tonsillectomy in 1975. Intubation was impossible due to extreme jaw muscle tension, followed by excessive elevation in body temperature, tachycardia, and coma for a few days. We evaluated him for malignant hyperthermia, according to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group Protocol, and found him highly positive in both the halothane and caffeine test, respectively. Three months later, we performed an orthotopic liver transplantation. During retransplantation 4 years later, due to ischemic-type biliary lesions, he suffered massive intraoperative bleeding. Blood products, as well as coagulation factors and aprotinin, were well tolerated. Anesthesia was performed in a trigger-free total intravenous technique without dantrolene prophylaxis, but dantrolene was readily available in sufficient quantities in the operating room. The patient did not encounter a malignant hyperthermia crisis in either perioperative period.
Schmidt
Annette
A
Department of Anesthesiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55101 Mainz, Germany. annette.schmidt@web.de
Tzanova
Irene
I
Köbler
Andrea M K
AM
Wisser
Gregor J F
GJ
Kentner
Rainer
R
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000601:surgery; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012086:Reoperation