Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but deadly condition that may be encountered in the emergency department (ED). This report highlights a case of a patient who initially presented for acute agitation with hypertension and tachycardia and provides explanation for how to manage MH. 

Case Report: A 44-year-old male presented to the ED with altered mental status, eventually requiring intubation with etomidate and succinylcholine. Despite being afebrile initially, the patient developed a rectal temperature of 105.3° Fahrenheit (F) with significantly elevated arterial carbon dioxide levels after intubation. The treating team initiated cooling measures and dantrolene, leading to a positive outcome. 

Conclusion: Clinicians should strive for expeditious recognition of MH and treatment with an updated institutional protocol.