Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited skeletal muscle disorder characterized by hypermetabolism, muscle rigidity, rhabdomyolysis, fever, metabolic acidosis and death if untreated. The syndrome is believed to result from abnormal control of intracellular calcium ions in the skeletal muscle: on exposure to certain anesthetics, calcium level is increased, and then it activates contractile processes and biochemical events that support muscle contraction. We experienced a MH of 2 years-old male who had release of sternocleidomastoid muscle due to torticolis under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and succinylcholine, maintained with enflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen (2 volume%: 2 L/min: 2 L/min). After induction of anesthesia, his heart rate, end-tidal CO2 tension and body temperature had been gradually increased and then those were reached to maximal value of heart rate (160~170 BPM), end-tidal CO2 tension (60~70 mmHg) and body temperature (41degrees C) 55 minutes later. He was immediately managed with symptomatic treatment such as hyperventilation with oxygen, cooling, beta-blocker, sodium bicarbonate and diuretics, so he was survived without any sequelae.

• Keywords: Hyperthermia;malignant;Acid-base equilibrium;metabolic acidosis;