Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a life-threatening rare condition that is only triggered in patients that are susceptible to it and have been exposed to specific general anaesthetic medication (halogenated inhalational anaesthetics) or a muscle relaxant (used during general anaesthetics known as succinylcholine).







On exposure to these medications, it triggers the body to produce too much heat. If it is not recognised and managed in its early stages after being triggered, MH can lead to death very quickly. Leading symptoms are muscle rigidity, hypercarbia (high carbon dioxide levels) and metabolic acidosis.





Certain people a predisposed to MH due to a change in the genes within the body (ryanodine 1 gene) that are responsible for controlling the release of calcium in muscle cells.