Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam

Does succinylcholine act as a triggering agent for Malignant Hyperthermia?

1. True

2. False

3. Only in certain patients

4. It is unrelated to Malignant Hyperthermia

The correct answer is: True

Succinylcholine is indeed recognized as a triggering agent for Malignant Hyperthermia (MH), a serious condition that can occur during or after general anesthesia, particularly in individuals who are genetically predisposed. When succinylcholine is administered, especially in conjunction with certain volatile anesthetics, it can provoke a hypermetabolic state in susceptible patients. This leads to a rapid increase in calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscles, resulting in muscle rigidity, metabolic acidosis, and a significant rise in body temperature. The condition is primarily linked to defects in the ryanodine receptor, which plays a role in calcium regulation within muscle cells. In patients with this defect, exposure to triggering agents like succinylcholine can lead to a catastrophic physiological response, characterized by hyperthermia and metabolic dysregulation. Therefore, knowing that succinylcholine acts as a trigger for Malignant Hyperthermia is essential for anesthesia providers to mitigate risks during surgical procedures involving at-risk patients.