A 22-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after being struck by a car while crossing the street. Vital signs are within normal limits. X-ray of the lower extremity shows a mid-shaft femur fracture. The patient is taken to the operating room for surgical repair of the fracture. As the surgeon begins the internal fixation, the patient shows muscle rigidity and profuse diaphoresis. Her core body temperature begins to increase and is now 38.9 C (102 F). Which of the following is the most likely underlying mechanism leading to elevated body temperature in this patient?

Question

A 22-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after being struck by a car while crossing the street. Vital signs are within normal limits. X-ray of the lower extremity shows a mid-shaft femur fracture. The patient is taken to the operating room for surgical repair of the fracture. As the surgeon begins the internal fixation, the patient shows muscle rigidity and profuse diaphoresis. Her core body temperature begins to increase and is now 38.9 C (102 F).  Which of the following is the most likely underlying mechanism leading to elevated body temperature in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: In patients with malignant hyperthermia, exposure to certain anesthetic agents (eg, succinylcholine, inhalational gasses) causes unregulated passage of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the intracellular space.  This results in sustained muscle contraction that leads to hypercarbia, hyperthermia, and acidosis.

A 22-Year-Old Woman Is Brought to the Emergency Department After