PERFORMANCE OF THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA: INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Malignant hyperthermia is a critical complication that can occur during or after the use of inhaled anesthetics and muscle relaxants, especially affecting genetically predisposed patients. This hypermetabolic condition causes serious physiological problems, such as muscle agitation, increased body temperature, and metabolic acidosis, and poses an imminent risk to life if not treated promptly. The anesthesiologist plays a crucial role in perioperative management, since he or she must continuously monitor vital signs and be alert to any signs of decompensation. A thorough understanding of the genetic origin of malignant hyperthermia allows identifying patients at risk and adopting preventive measures. Since this is a literature review, the methodology adopted to select materials relevant to the topic consisted of consulting the database available on the PubMed electronic platform, prioritizing more recent scientific publications. The bibliographic search, conducted online, used the descriptors: Malignant Hyperthermia, Decerebrate State e Anesthesiology, to ensure the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the results. Thus, this work sought to explore the challenges faced by anesthesiologists when faced with this condition, emphasizing the importance of improved practices and specific protocols to improve patient safety, in addition to reviewing the evolution of knowledge about malignant hyperthermia over the years.