Malignant Hyperthermia

Patients with no known medical problems or health risk may when exposed to certain anesthetic drugs develop a high body temperature, stiff muscles, cardiac arrhythmia, acidosis, and other life-threatening conditions.  This unusual reaction, malignant hyperthermia, occurs in genetically predisposed patients, who have a disease of their skeletal muscle, which may otherwise be clinically silent.  Prompt recognition and treatment of this condition prevents adverse results; anyone who has previously had this reaction or who have family members who have had bad reactions to anesthesia must inform their doctors, before they have elective surgery.

A similar reaction (but without known genetic risk) may occur after exposure to other drugs, usually ones used for treatment of psychiatric conditions.  This reaction is known as malignant neuroleptic syndrome.  Its treatment is similar to that for malignant hyperthermia.

Dr. Willner was on the advisory board of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States and has published research and clinical papers about these conditions.