Malignant Hyperthermia

[ICRN2008]

I was told by one of the PACU nurses the other day that the risk for development of malignant hyperthermia extends to 2 hours post-op. This patient had a family (but not personal) history of MH. In recovery they had been taking a temp every fifteen minutes as a precaution. I continued to do so for the first hour that my patient was on the floor, but I question whether this was necessary.

Can anyone provide me (a floor nurse) with some guidance with regards to this type of situation? TIA

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I have also learned NOT to give Lactated Ringers or Calcium channel blockers with Dantrolene.

http://medical.mhaus.org/PubData/PDFs/treatmentposter.pdf

There is nothing that I have seen that says not to give LR when treating MH. There is a small amount of Ca++ and K+ in LR that maybe a theoretical concern. Since you are going to be giving large fluid volumes to induce diuresis in a MH crisis NS is not a good choice since large volumes of NS will cause acidosis from hyperchloremia.