Acute and Critical Care

Case Reports

Delayed Onset of Malignant Hyperthermia: A Case Report: Jeong Wook Lim, Seok Kon Yeo, Seong Hwan Yang, In Seok Hwang, Jong Soo Lee; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2009;24(3):168-171.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2009.24.3.168

Abstract PDF: Malignant hyperthermia is a potentially fatal genetic and metabolic myopathy that presents with high fever, and muscle rigidity, and it often occurs after administering anesthetic medication. Most cases of malignant hyperthermia occur during anesthesia or surgery, but delayed malignant hyperthermia is very rare, and if it is detected late, it has a high mortality rate. A 39-year-old male with an acute subdural hematoma underwent decompressive craniectomy without any intraoperative medical problems, but a high fever above 40degrees C occurred after 8 hours and he was dead in spite of aggressive management after 48 hours postoperatively. We present here a case of delayed malignant hyperthermia along with a review of the related literature.

Dantrolene and Post-operative Hyperthermia: A Case Report: Ja Kyung Koo, Cheol Hong Kim, Ah Leum Lim, Se Ah Kwon, Ji Young Park, Soon Jae Lee, In Gyu Hyun, Je Hyun Yoo; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2009;24(2):92-98.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2009.24.2.92

Abstract PDF: Malignant hyperthermia is a rare, fatal pharmacogenetic disorder that occurs during general anesthesia following exposure to a depolarizing muscle relaxant, such as succinylcholine, or volatile anesthetics. Clinical findings in malignant hyperthermia include muscle rigidity, sinus tachycardia, increased CO2 production, skin cyanosis with mottling, and marked hyperthermia. For treatment, cooling techniques must be accompanied by discontinuation of the provocative medication. Furthermore, dantrolene administration is the mainstay of treatment for malignant hyperthermia, and should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected. We recently experienced a case with post-operative fever of 41.0degrees C refractory to conventional anti-pyretic measures and finally resolved with dantrolene administration, in a patient with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus monoarthritis of the knee and rapid progression of diffuse septic pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation.

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