Malignant hyperthermia in maxillofacial surgery: Literature review supported by case presentation

• Published in: Special care in dentistry 2023-01, Vol.43 (1), p.99-108
• Main Authors: Aires, Carolina Chaves Gama, Souza, Rosa Rayanne Lins, Amorim, Jane Auxiliadora, Santos, Fabiano Gouveia, Diniz, Demóstenes Alves, Carneiro, Suzana Célia de Aguiar Soares, Vasconcellos, Ricardo José de Holanda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthetics; Biopsy; Child; Dantrolene - therapeutic use; Diagnosis; emergency; Fever; general anesthesia; Humans; Hypercapnia; Hyperthermia; Hyperthermia, Induced - adverse effects; Isoflurane; Literature reviews; Male; Malignant hyperthermia; Malignant Hyperthermia - diagnosis; Malignant Hyperthermia - etiology; Malignant Hyperthermia - therapy; Maxillofacial; Maxillofacial surgery; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular diseases; Patients; Sevoflurane; Sevoflurane - therapeutic use; Succinylcholine - therapeutic use; Surgery; Surgery, Oral; Tachycardia; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0275-1879; 1754-4505
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12737

Objective Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is characterized by a state of hypermetabolism after exposure to halogenated inhalational anesthetics or succinylcholine. The aims of this study were to carry out an updated review on the subject and report an illustrative case of MH in urgent maxillofacial surgery. Material and Methods A search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database using the keyword “malignant hyperthermia” was performed including articles published over the last 11 years in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Exclusion criteria were similar presentations but not associated with MH and cases not related to the use of anesthetic drugs as a trigger of the condition. Case Report A 45‐year‐old man (75 kg, ASA status IE) with a negative family history for neuromuscular diseases, victim of a car accident with a facial fracture, underwent surgery under balanced general anesthesia and developed signs of MH 4 h after anesthesia induction. In our patient, the causative agent was sevoflurane and the diagnosis of MH was confirmed, subsequently, by muscle biopsy. Results/Discussion Overall, 44 cases of MH were found. According to the recent literature, MH shows a male predilection (3:1) and the mean age of patients is 32.2 ± 22.2 years. The most frequently cited causative agents were sevoflurane (30.5%), isoflurane (22.2%), and sevoflurane + succinylcholine (13.8%). The most common clinical indicators included hypercarbia (88.8%), hyperthermia (86.1%), and tachycardia (63.8%). Dantrolene was administered in 24 cases. The outcome was favorable in 31 cases (86.1%). The in vitro muscle contracture test (IVCT) was performed in only 15 patients and all of them tested positive. In our patient, the causative agent was sevoflurane and the diagnosis of MH was confirmed by muscle biopsy. Conclusion The mortality from MH is still high and an early clinical diagnosis and specific treatment with dantrolene are necessary for a favorable outcome. A complete understanding will allow better management of patients with MH. At present, the best management is to identify susceptible patients and to avoid triggering agents, combined with vigilant monitoring.