Malignant hyperthermia

• Rapid rise in temperature after general anesthesia is given
• Muscle rigidity and stiffness after general anesthesia is given
• Dark brown urine
• Muscle ache without obvious exercise to explain sore muscles
• Family history of malignant hyperthermia or unexplained death during anesthesia

• Blood chemistry ( chem-20 ) shows increased blood levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK ), potassium, uric acid, phosphate.
• Myoglobin in the urine is elevated.
• Muscle biopsy may show abnormal results in response to certain drugs such as caffeine and halothane (an anesthetic) andabnormal muscle fibers.
• Genetic testing such as ryanodine receptor (RYR1) may show gene abnormalities.
• Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a research test, may show abnormal muscle function.

Marx J. Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002:2000.

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