Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Title
Academic Term
Summer 2020
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 6810
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
Dr. Chovan
Keywords
Malignant, Hyperthermia, Hypermetabolic, Ryanodine, Mortality
Subject Categories
Critical Care Nursing | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a condition in which the body goes into a hypermetabolic state affecting skeletal muscle in response to receiving inhaled anesthetics or the neuromuscular blocking agent, succinylcholine. MH is an autosomal dominant disorder that is most closely related to a defect in the ryanodine receptor. The defective receptor causes a rapid increase of intracellular calcium causing hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypercapnia, increased oxygen consumption, acidosis, hyperkalemia, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis. With the complexity of this disorder and its unique pathophysiological process it is crucial that all parts of the surgical team, especially anesthesia providers, understand how to treat a patient with MH. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) serve as anesthesia providers and are responsible for monitoring patients very closely. Clinical signs of MH must be recognized and treated early in order to decrease morbidity and mortality. Future anesthesia providers must be educated on MH as their skill set can determine the fate of a patient.
Keywords: malignant, hyperthermia, ryanodine, hypermetabolic, pathophysiology, mortality
Recommended Citation
Hernandez, Kathryn, "Malignant Hyperthermia" (2020). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 433.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/433