Malignant hyperthermia and dantrolene sodium.

Recently, there was a case report of malignant hyperthermia in Korea. The patient was treated with conventional methods including dantrolene, but the patient’s condition became aggravated, requiring the application of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) to support cardiopulmonary resuscitation [1]. However, if the patient had been treated by prompt administration of dantrolene (i.e., within 20 minutes), we wonder how the patient’s clinical course may have progressed.

According to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group guidelines for management of malignant hyperthermia, at least 36 vials of 20 mg dantrolene should be prepared within 10–15 minutes to effectively treat the condition. However, dantrolene is expensive and has a short life span; thus, routine preparation of dantrolene may not be cost effective [2]. In a previous report, it was noted that many hospitals were not prepared to provide the recommended dose of 36 vials of dantrolene [3]. Although the preparation of 36 vials is not necessarily cost-effective, preparation of the first dose is recommended to prevent serious complications involving reduced mortality, as well as to provide the anesthesiologist with time to prepare the second dose of dantrolene [4].

Therefore, it is necessary to reorganize the current system, in which dantrolene is prepared only in single base hospitals in each region; we propose that the system should be modified to ensure preparation of the first dose of dantrolene such that it can be readily administered in each hospital. We expect that this would enable the first dose of dantrolene to be administered in a much faster time interval than in the current system; this could save patients by reducing associated mortality and morbidity. In addition, patients who express some symptoms and signs that are similar to malignant hyperthermia may not be confirmed as cases of malignant hyperthermia. Therefore, an additional system should be prepared to enable prompt patient transfer to the malignant hyperthermia center; moreover, the caffeine-halothane contracture test and gene test should be available, which can be used for diagnosis and further assistance of patients and their families. This would facilitate prevention of malignant hyperthermia in the future and provide necessary information to the medical providers.

We think that a properly equipped malignant hyperthermia center is essential to confirm diagnosis and support affected patients in Korea.