Malignant hyperthermia - What do we know in 2019?

Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia is a challenge for anaesthesiologists and those responsible for health care organisation. Appropriate preparation of institutions providing medical services as well as anaesthesiologists and intensivists ensures a significant reduction in MH mortality. The Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy (PTAiIT) was a signatory to the Helsinki Declaration concerning the safety of patients in anaesthesiology; one of the assumptions was to have the procedure for MHE designed [32]. The Section of Paediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of the PTAiIT issued the statement that dantrolene should be available in any centre anaesthetising children. It seems, however, that this recommendation is not observed in all such places. Another issue is that the in vitro contracture test cannot be performed in Poland while genetic testing is available. Although MH episodes are incidental, the MH knowledge among anaesthesiologists should be continuously updated; the present paper is to serve this purpose.