A minimal-invasive metabolic test detects malignant hyperthermia susceptibility in a patient after sevoflurane-induced metabolic crisis.
Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening complication of general anesthesia in predisposed patients usually triggered by potent inhalation anesthetics and/or the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine. The authors present a case of delayed sevoflurane-induced malignant hyperthermia in a 21-year-old male patient that was sufficiently treated by discontinuation of trigger agent application and dantrolene infusion. After surviving an MH episode diagnostic procedures are indicated to increase patient safety. In the presented case, the use of a novel minimal-invasive metabolic test with intramuscular injection of halothane and caffeine successfully confirmed MH susceptibility and hence might be an alternative for invasive in vitro contracture testing in selected cases.
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Street 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Frank
F
Schuster
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Street 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Stephan
S
Johannsen
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Wuerzburg, Oberduerrbacher Street 6, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Norbert
N
Roewer
Department of Anaesthesia, Landshut-Achdorf Hospital, Achdorfer Weg 3, 84036 Landshut, Germany.
Martin
M
Anetseder