O
C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 2 3
Instructions and protocol
The summary of procedures includes instruc-
tions for preparing the OR for known MH-sus-
ceptible patients, as well as the protocol for
treating an MH crisis, with graphic instructions
for preparing and administering dantrolene,
removing the anesthetic vapor cassette and
FULLY STOCKED
Is Your MH Cart Properly Equipped?
Ancillary equipment
Our cart also contains pertinent ancillary equip-
ment, including urinary catheters and a urine
collection container, central venous access kits
and blood sampling materials.
—Carlos A. Ibarra Moreno, MD, PhD, DESA
Dantrolene sodium vials
Dantrolene sodium vials (20 mg each) are
packed in separate containers. There are always
enough vials for the initial treatment of one
patient. We keep three full dantrolene contain-
ers in the cart.
installing activated carbon filters in the breath-
ing circuit. The folders also contain printed
warning signs, which are hung in the OR when-
ever there is an MH case in the room.
Facing a malignant
hyperthermia (MH)
incident is scary,
and if your MH cart
is not properly
stocked and organ-
ized, your staff will
have more difficul-
ty handling the sit-
uation with confi-
dence. At our facil-
ity, one MH cart
holds enough
drugs and equipment for the initial treatment of
three patients. During an MH crisis, the anesthe-
siologist in charge becomes the team leader and
is responsible for the patient's medical manage-
ment and administering treatment. Anesthesia
assistants take care of materials and equipment
while the rest of the team — including nurses
and other physicians present — help prepare the
dantrolene and give support to the anesthesiolo-
gist in charge.
STAY ORGANIZED Two folders on top of the
cart contain a summary of procedures and a list
of items in the MH cart, which is checked on a
weekly basis.
Carlos
A.
Ibarra
Moreno,
MD,
PhD,
DESA