Suspected Malignant Hyperthermia in a Brain-Dead Donor During Anesthesia for Organ Procurement Surgery: A Case Report

Hoon Jung, Hyunjee Kim, Taeyoung Yu, Jinsong Yeo, Won Jung Shin, Hyun Su Ri, Kyung Hwa Kwak, Dong Gun Lim, Sioh Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report an unusual case of highly suspected malignant hyperthermia after inducing anesthesia in a brain-dead 18-year-old male patient undergoing organ procurement surgery. The patient was administered desflurane (3 vol%) and rocuronium bromide (50 mg) to induce and maintain general anesthesia. He experienced hypercapnia and tachycardia within 5 minutes of anesthesia induction; however, his body temperature rapidly rose only after 15 minutes. The volatile anesthetic was discontinued, and dantrolene was administered at a low dose (1 mg/kg) to avert possible hepatotoxic effects on the donor liver. Fortunately, the clinical course of the brain-dead donor until the organs were harvested and the liver transplantation outcome of the recipient was favorable. A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of brain death, organ transplantation, and malignant hyperthermia is essential to respond promptly and appropriately. Based on our experience, low-dose dantrolene may be clinically used in brain-dead donors while accounting for its potential hepatotoxic effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1893-1895
Number of pages3
JournalTransplantation Proceedings
Volume55
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2023

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