Successful management of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility during cesarean hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage

If neglected, malignant hyperthermia susceptibility, in response to the adm inistration of general anesthesia, characterized by hypermetabolism with va rying clinical signs and symptoms, can result in death. Its occurrence duri ng cesarean hysterectomy is rare but the mortality is high. Malignant hyper thermia susceptibility is an inherited pharmacogenetic disorder that occurs in susceptible subjects after exposure to inhaled anesthetics and depolari zing muscle relaxants. This case report points out that, given the unavaila bility of a muscle biopsy, the immediate diagnosis of malignant hyperthermi a, utilizing a system of measurable variables, may very well save patients from the life-threatening or debilitating effects of this disorder.