Too Hot to Handle
This rare, life-threatening pharmacogenetic disorder is triggered by certain anesthetic agents.
What is malignant hyperthermia?
This potentially life-threatening complication occurs when local anesthetic levels become too high in the bloodstream.
What is Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST)?
This life-threatening event occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively.
What is cardiac arrest?
High-quality compressions should be started immediately when this condition is identified.
What is pulselessness?
A rapid rise in end-tidal CO₂ is often the earliest sign of this condition.
What is malignant hyperthermia?
This class of anesthetic gases can trigger malignant hyperthermia.
What are volatile inhalation anesthetics? (Name examples.)
Perioral numbness, tinnitus, and a metallic taste are early signs of toxicity affecting this body system.
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
Immediate activation of this team is a critical first step when a patient experiences cardiac arrest in the OR.
What is the MSET or resuscitation team?
This medication is administered every 3 to 5 minutes during most cardiac arrest algorithms.
What is epinephrine? (Locate and assemble.)
Generalized muscle rigidity, especially of the jaw after succinylcholine administration, is known by this term.
What is masseter muscle rigidity?
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States is better known by this acronym.
What is MHAUS?
Agitation, confusion, and muscle twitching may progress to this neurologic emergency.
What are seizures?
This severe allergic reaction can rapidly progress to cardiovascular collapse during surgery.
What is anaphylaxis?
These two interventions should occur simultaneously when a patient in the OR is found pulseless.
What are starting high-quality CPR and calling for help/activating the emergency response system?
Bupivicaine, Ropivicaine, Lidocaine
What are medications that, if injected intravascularly, could lead to LAST?
This antidote is the only specific treatment for malignant hyperthermia.
What is Dantrolene or Ryanodex?
This medication therapy is the cornerstone of LAST treatment.
What is intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) or LIPIDS?
During orthopedic procedures, this rare complication can cause sudden cardiovascular collapse.
What is a fat embolism?
Identify and locate cart needed to manage cardiac arrest in the OR.
MSET cart. Outside OR 1 or 8.
5 ml non-bacteriostatic sterile water
What is the appropriate solution for reconstitution of Dantrolene - Ryanodex?
During a malignant hyperthermia emergency, the recommended initial dantrolene dose is this amount per kilogram of body weight.
What is 2.5 mg/kg IV?
(Every 5 minutes up to 10mg/kg thru large bore IV)
The recommended concentration of lipid emulsion used to treat LAST is this percentage.
What is 20% lipid emulsion?
During laparoscopic surgery, this embolic complication may result from insufflation gas entering the circulation.
What is a carbon dioxide gas embolism?
x5555
What is the IFMC medical alert phone number?
This definitive diagnostic test exposes muscle tissue to caffeine and halothane to assess MH susceptibility.
What is the caffeine-halothane contracture test (CHCT)?