Malignant hyperthermia that occurred during surgery to treat an arteriovenous malformation in a patient under isoflurane anesthesia

The authors report the case of an arteriovenous malformation in which malignant hyperthermia (MH) occurred during surgery while the patient was under general anesthesia induced by isoflurane. Isoflurane has a protective effect against brain damage, so this anesthetic is commonly used for neurosurgical procedures. However, if MH occurs, the symptoms are fulminant and the prognosis is poor. The authors herein describe MH etiologies, symptoms, and therapies and emphasize the importance of preoperative examinations, the selection of anesthetic methods, the early detection of symptoms and the early initiation of therapy.