Malignant hyperthermia: a dilemma for the cardiac surgeon
Landymore, R.W.; Allen, C.; Johnstone, D.; Wood, J.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie 30(3): 209-211
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-428X PMID: 3495323 Document Number: 305371
Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disease of skeletal muscle characterized by acute elevations of body temperature. The hyperthermic crisis is triggered by a variety of drugs and by volatile anesthetics or it may occur in response to stress. In this report the authors describe the case of a patient with malignant hyperthermia who underwent emergency aortocoronary bypass surgery for unstable angina. They outline the anesthetic and surgical management for individuals susceptible to hyperthermic crises who require open-heart surgery.