3 3
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
Increased end-tidal CO
2
and
tachycardia are early indications of an MH crisis.
a.
true
b.
false
Answer
: a
An increase in end-tidal CO
2
and a decrease in arterial oxygen are the most sen-
sitive, and often the first, indicators of potential MH. Additionally, an unex-
plained ultra-rapid tachycardia is another first sign. Other symptoms of MH
include body rigidity, masseter rigidity,
tachypnea, acidosis and hyperkalemia.
Temperature elevations are also an
obvious sign of MH, but often don't
appear until later, after action to treat
the patient should have already been
started.
Dantrolene is the only
accepted specific rescue agent for MH.
a.
true
b.
false
M A L I G N A N T H Y P E R T H E R M I A
IN THE MIX Keep an adequate sup-
ply of dantrolene on hand for recon-
stituting as soon as MH is diagnosed.
DRILL TEAM Practice is key to making
emergency response routine.
