Malignant Hyperthermia

Malignant Hyperthermia is a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy that is a deathly reaction to certain types of anesthesia. The specific muscle relaxant suxamethonium chloride and other aggressive anesthesias cause a deathly reaction which unfortumately cannot always be stopped. Anesthesias will cause a severe increase in oxidative metabolism which in lamens terms keeps a persons body from producing enough oxygen and hinders the removal of carbon dioxide. Which then leads to the failure of the circulatory system and death.

MH is a genetic disease and is usually passed down from generation to generation, and in many families is completely overlooked. Many people with MH can live their lives without any reaction from this disease. Unfortunately however there are still people to this day that die from this rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.

The first signs of a MH reaction is first rigid and stiff muscles due to the overwhelming influx of carbon dioxide. After this the body temperature increases significantly, it can increase up to 2 degrees celsius per hour. Due to the increase in body heat and the large amount of carbon dioxide, the muscles in the body start to break down and disintegrate until the person dies.

The two major triggers for this disease are Halothane and Succinylcholine. However Malignant Hyperthermia does not always trigger at every exposure to these medications, for some reason it takes its time and only reacts when it chooses to. There is not a specific method to the madness. The reaction usually occurs with an hour of exposure to these anesthesias if it is going to, and death can happen within just a few hours of the first symptoms.

A person can be tested for MH now, however it is not an easy test. They usually do a muscle biopsy, which is in itself not severe, yet you have to endure the biopsy with only a numbing agent on the top of the skin. As soon as the cut delves within the leg where they due the procedure the pain will not be blurred or numbed. Of course this kind of test is worth it to many families if they can determine whether this disease is rampant within their own genetics.

Now during many surgeries for people who have MH there is a medication that can stop the reaction, called Dantrolene. As long as Dantrolene is given at the first signs of Malignant Hyperthermia, than the reactions can be stopped. They used to pre-treat patients with MH with Dantrolene before surgery, however due to the weakness it can cause now they only use the medication in reaction to the symptoms. The death toll from this disease has gone from 80% at first sign of reaction to 10%. Allowing many families to breathe easier.