What is malignant hypothermia?
Malignant hypothermia (MH) is a common spelling of malignant hyperthermia, a potentially fatal health crisis that may occur when a surgical patient with a certain type of genetic abnormality is prepared for surgery with a kind of anesthetic. Using the wrong class of anesthetic can cause life -threatening chemical reaction in the body due to genetic defect. MH may also occur if, unknown to medical providers, suffers from muscle dystrophy patient because the onset of MH begins with reaction in skeletal muscles. Sensitivity to MH is genetically hereditary. Preventive measures can be taken if treatment providers are aware of any medical history of MH in a patient or its family. Although generally, there is no medical concerns in everyday activities, the introduction of certain anesthetics into the results of the skeletal muscle tissue. This triggered maintained muscle contractions, causing muscle cells to die rapidly. ResultThe release of potassium into the bloodstream, when the cells die, causes rapid damage to organ systems of the body, including the brain, and possible fatal organs failure.
Malignant hyperthermia is associated with more than 80 genetic defects. It has been found that the susceptibility to MH is inherited in what is called the pattern of autosomal dominance. Children and siblings of a sensitive person MH would therefore have a 50% chance to inherit a gene defect, which would also make it susceptible to MH. Estimates about the occurrence of MH, ranging from only 1 in 65,000 anesthetics administration to one in 5,000. The US states that Midwest states have a higher incidence of MH.
specific was identified by anesthetics that triggers malignant hyperthermia. It is a class of gaseous anesthetics that are inhaled before surgery. They include all depolarization muscle relaxants, especially subinycholine, known as annexing, paralysis. NeolarIsaration anesthetics, such as nitrous oxide and certain narcotics and barbiturates, can be used as an alternative to anesthetics that represents the threat of MH. It is important that doctors' providers know in advance of any possibility that the patient is sensitive, so preventive measures can be taken.
The accurate occurrence of malignant hyperthermia is unknown. In the US, the Malignant Association of Hypertermia in the US (Mhaus) recommends that anyone with the MH family history inform about the anesthesiologist about this before any surgery. MH sensitivity can also be registered in the North American Mhaus Register.