Surgery>>>>>Anesthesia for the Surgical Patient
Question 1#

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) can develop after receiving general anesthesia. Triggering agents include, but are NOT limited to:

A. Halothane, isoflurane
B. Desflurane
C. Electroflurane
D. Hypoflurane, osteoflurane

Correct Answer is A

Comment:

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a hereditary, life-threatening, hypermetabolic acute disorder, developing during or after receiving general anesthesia. The clinical incidence of MH is about 1:12,000 in children and 1:40,000 in adults. A genetic predisposition and one or more triggering agents are necessary to evoke MH. Triggering agents include all volatile anesthetics ( eg, halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane) and the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine. Volatile anesthetics and/or succinylcholine cause a rise in the myoplasmic calcium concentration in susceptible patients, resulting in persistent muscle contraction.