CASE OF MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA IN A CHILD OF AFRICAN DESCENT AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL, NAIROBI KENYA

Abstract

Malignant Hyperthermia is a dreaded complication of certain anaesthetics.
Predisposition to the condition is genetic and occurs due to the mutations in
autosomal dominant genes coding for defective receptors in skeletald muscles involving ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR 1) and voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel (Dihydropyridine receptor-DHPR) The common agents which are thought to precipitate this catastrophic complication are inhalation agents such as sevoflurane and muscle relaxants such as suxamethonium. It is advised to immediately stop the administration of the offending agents and administer dantrolene sodium which can alleviate the condition. Although such events are rarely reported in the African continent, there are many such reports from the developed countries. In this report, a 4-year-old child who presented for adenotonsillectomy developed malignant hyperthermia and required repeated doses of dantrolene sodium and was successfully rescued.