Did you know that without prompt treatment, Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) can be fatal? Dr. Joe Tobin, MH expert and Board member of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of United States (MHAUS), describes the disease as an inherited disorder of skeletal muscle triggered in susceptible (human or animal) in most instances by inhalation agents, and/or succinylcholine resulting in hypermetabolism, hyperthermia, and death if untreated. Symptoms include muscle rigidity, high fever, and a fast heart rate.

In 2016, Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostic Center successfully completed an MH prep check provided by MHAUS. It is the facility policy and practice to ensure every patient is properly preoperatively screened, therefore, preventing the admission of patients with known Malignant Hyperthermia or those who have a first degree relative with known MH. First degree relatives are defined as mother, father, sibling, or children of the patient. Sometimes people don’t give this disorder the importance it deserves, have no idea about the susceptibility in the family, or simply do not have knowledge about this condition. The prevalence of MHS (malignant hyperthermia susceptibility) in the general population is unknown, though it is estimated at 1:2000 by the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (Litman, 2018).

Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostic Center is one of the busiest ambulatory surgery centers in Florida and we always take in consideration patient’s safety first. The RYANODEX® MH medication and protocol simplifies and expedites the treatment of malignant hyperthermia in a crisis and may help reduce overall risk for the patient and the facility. Decreasing the time to administer a therapeutic dose of dantrolene sodium will simplify the treatment process for the entire team. Reducing the number of vials to be stored in each facility decreases the time for reconstitution and administration of dantrolene sodium, eliminates the requirement to store large volumes of sterile water on an Malignant Hyperthermia cart, which overall increases the efficiency of care.

Author: Yesenia DeJesus-Suarez DNP, CCRN, ARNP – Executive Director of Griffin Campus of LSDC

Picture retrieved: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/what-is-malignant-hyperthermia

References

Litman, R.S. (2018). Susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia: Evaluation and management. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/susceptibility-to-malignant-hyperthermia-evaluation-and-management Susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia: Evaluation and management

Malignant Hyperthermia Association of United States (2018).MHS patient discussion webinar. Retrieved from https://www.mhaus.org/videos/mhs-patient-discussion-webinar-july-11th-2018/platform=hootsuite

Malignant Hyperthermia Association of United States (n.d.).Who is susceptible to MH? Retrieved from https://www.mhaus.org/faqs/category/frequently-asked-questions-about/about-mh/

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us