Revue médicale de la Suisse romande
-
Malignant hyperthermia is a serious anesthetic complication, presenting with various manifestations, with high mortality and morbidity. There are several incomplete and abortive forms, and the clinicians must be aware of the possibility of malignant hyperthermia, and recognize the first signs of the hyperthermic crisis hyperthermia, hypermetabolism and muscular rigidity. ⋯ Cellular investigations demonstrate that the malignant hyperthermia crisis presents as an intracellular flooding with calcium, leading to an abnormal muscular contracture. Several mutations in particular involving the ryanodine receptor gene have been linked to malignant hyperthermia.