Successful management of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in a malignant hyperthermia susceptible patient.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially lethal reaction in those that are genetically predisposed, frequently triggered by inhaled anesthetics. MH is often difficult to diagnose because it is accompanied by signs and symptoms that are shared with other disorders. The diagnosis is further obscured in cardiac surgical patients, as the signs of MH can be masked by the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit (CPB) and the use of induced hypothermia.

Elevated preoperative blood pressures in adult surgical patients are highly predictive of elevated home blood pressures.

Blood pressure (BP) measurement during the presurgical assessment has been suggested as a way to improve longitudinal detection and treatment of hypertension. The relationship between BP measured during this assessment and home blood pressure (HBP), a better indicator of hypertension, is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine the positive predictive value of presurgical BP for predicting elevated HBP.