J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 2 9
O
ur annual training for malignant hyperthermia (MH)
emergencies used to be expected and ordinary. We sat
through classroom learning, watched an educational
video and clicked through a PowerPoint. It was boring
and no one was engaged. It seemed like we tolerated
training just to check a box to say we did it. We knew it could be better.
Given the stakes, it had to be better.
MH is a potentially fatal, inherited disorder usually associated with
the administration of triggering agents such as general anesthetics
and/or succinylcholine. If an MH crisis isn't treated promptly, the
patient can suffer severe complications such as cardiac arrest, brain
Are You Ready for an MH Emergency?
Realistic training ensures staff act quickly and confidently during a real crisis.
NO DUMMY Instead of mannequins, the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System used real staff and simulated dantrolene to the
make MH simulation training as realistic as possible.
VA
Southern
Nevada
Healthcare
System
Kimberly Macasieb, MSN, RN, CNL, CNOR | Las Vegas
