'recrudescence'

Q: What is 'recrudescence' in Malignant Hyperthermia (MH)?

Answer: Out of five patients treated for MH, one may experience recrudescence after successful treatment of an acute event. Symptoms of recrudescence are tachycardia, respiratory rate doubling or tripling, and a re-rise of body temperature. If these symptoms occur two or more hours after the first acute event, it is described as recrudescence. Risk factors are patients with high muscle mass and level of high temperature in the first event. In contrast to the first acute MH event, recrudescence can be highly morbid with a vital organ failure.

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References:

1. Hopkins PM. Recrudescence of malignant hyperthermia. Anesthesiology. 2007 May;106(5):893-4. doi: 10.1097/01.anes.0000265144.63696.af. PMID: 17457116.

2. Larach MG, Gronert GA, Allen GC, Brandom BW, Lehman EB. Clinical presentation, treatment, and complications of malignant hyperthermia in North America from 1987 to 2006. Anesth Analg. 2010 Feb 1;110(2):498-507. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181c6b9b2. PMID: 20081135.