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Malignant hyperthermia safety - A nationwide survey of publicly funded Swedish healthcare

Hellblom, Anna LU ; Pettersson Miller, William ; Soller, Maria LU and Samuelsson, Carolina LU (2024) In Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica p.1-6
Abstract
Background
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare pharmacogenetic disorder that can lead to a life-threatening reaction during general anaesthesia with triggering agents. Prompt life-saving treatment includes the immediate administration of the antidote dantrolene. This study investigated Swedish healthcare providers' awareness and adherence to guidelines and recommendations with respect to MH and whether adherence to safe MH-praxis varies with hospital care-complexity level and private versus public management form.

Method
Agreements and procurement specifications between all 21 Swedish County Councils and privately run surgical care providers were reviewed alongside with questionnaire-aided collection of information from... (More)
Background
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare pharmacogenetic disorder that can lead to a life-threatening reaction during general anaesthesia with triggering agents. Prompt life-saving treatment includes the immediate administration of the antidote dantrolene. This study investigated Swedish healthcare providers' awareness and adherence to guidelines and recommendations with respect to MH and whether adherence to safe MH-praxis varies with hospital care-complexity level and private versus public management form.

Method
Agreements and procurement specifications between all 21 Swedish County Councils and privately run surgical care providers were reviewed alongside with questionnaire-aided collection of information from 62 publicly funded health care providers (both privately and publicly run).

Results
No procurement requirement specification or contract contained requirements on anaesthesia or aspects of MH. All publicly run hospitals stocked dantrolene and 28 out of 52 (54%) stocked the recommended amount. Seven out of nine (78%) of the privately run institutions stocked dantrolene, and one stocked the recommended amount. Publicly run hospitals adhered to recommendations to a greater extent than privately run institutions, both with respect to stocking of dantrolene (p = .02) and to stocking the recommended amount (p = .03).

Conclusions
Contracts between Swedish county councils and private surgical care subcontractors rarely outline expectations of standards for the safe practice of anaesthesia such as preparedness to handle a life-threatening MH reaction. Among Swedish publicly funded anaesthesia providers there is room for improvement in adherence to the EMHG guideline on dantrolene availability. Publicly run hospitals seem to have better compliance with these recommendations than privately run institutions. Raising awareness about current guidelines is important to improve safety for known and unknown MH-susceptible individuals. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
pages
1 - 6
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:38566397
  • scopus:85189899691
ISSN
0001-5172
DOI
10.1111/aas.14417
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
24f1e033-cad1-45bb-b42b-fce5ed877b10
date added to LUP
2024-04-20 09:03:11
date last changed
2024-04-22 07:45:09
@article{24f1e033-cad1-45bb-b42b-fce5ed877b10,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare pharmacogenetic disorder that can lead to a life-threatening reaction during general anaesthesia with triggering agents. Prompt life-saving treatment includes the immediate administration of the antidote dantrolene. This study investigated Swedish healthcare providers' awareness and adherence to guidelines and recommendations with respect to MH and whether adherence to safe MH-praxis varies with hospital care-complexity level and private versus public management form.<br/><br/>Method<br/>Agreements and procurement specifications between all 21 Swedish County Councils and privately run surgical care providers were reviewed alongside with questionnaire-aided collection of information from 62 publicly funded health care providers (both privately and publicly run).<br/><br/>Results<br/>No procurement requirement specification or contract contained requirements on anaesthesia or aspects of MH. All publicly run hospitals stocked dantrolene and 28 out of 52 (54%) stocked the recommended amount. Seven out of nine (78%) of the privately run institutions stocked dantrolene, and one stocked the recommended amount. Publicly run hospitals adhered to recommendations to a greater extent than privately run institutions, both with respect to stocking of dantrolene (p = .02) and to stocking the recommended amount (p = .03).<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>Contracts between Swedish county councils and private surgical care subcontractors rarely outline expectations of standards for the safe practice of anaesthesia such as preparedness to handle a life-threatening MH reaction. Among Swedish publicly funded anaesthesia providers there is room for improvement in adherence to the EMHG guideline on dantrolene availability. Publicly run hospitals seem to have better compliance with these recommendations than privately run institutions. Raising awareness about current guidelines is important to improve safety for known and unknown MH-susceptible individuals.}},
  author       = {{Hellblom, Anna and Pettersson Miller, William and Soller, Maria and Samuelsson, Carolina}},
  issn         = {{0001-5172}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  pages        = {{1--6}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Malignant hyperthermia safety - A nationwide survey of publicly funded Swedish healthcare}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aas.14417}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/aas.14417}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}