Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
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J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. · Nov 1981
Case ReportsMalignant hyperthermia in a halothane-anesthetized horse.
Malignant hyperthermia developed in a 4-year-old Thoroughbred horse following 3 hours and 15 minutes of halothane anesthesia, with supplementary succinylcholine. Clinical signs included fever, sweating, hyperventilation, tachycardia, and decreased blood pressure followed by a rapid increase in blood pressure. Biochemical aberrations included hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, myoglobinuria, and high creatine phosphokinase and ornithine carbamyl transferase activities. ⋯ Following recovery, treatment consisted of administration of balanced electrolyte solutions, calcium borogluconate, potassium penicillin, meperidine, and additional dantrolene. Muscle biopsy demonstrated exaggerated contracture responses to halothane and caffeine, confirming a diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia. The horse was returned to training following a routine postsurgical convalescent period.