Propofol is a ‘Safe’ Anaesthetic Agent in Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptible Patients

In this study we investigated in vitro and in vivo effects of propofol in malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) patients in order to assess the safety of propofol infusion as a non-triggering anaesthetic technique for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In vitro, human MHS muscle samples were exposed to propofol and changes in (a) baseline tension and (b) contracture tension on exposure to halothane and caffeine were measured. In vivo, (a) anaesthesia was induced in ten muscle biopsy positive MHS patients with propofol 2.5 mg/kg and (b) anaesthesia was produced in five muscle biopsy positive MHS patients with infusions of propofol up to 10 mg/kg/hr. In vitro, human MHS muscle did not develop contractures with propofol alone. Propofol had no significant effect on contracture development in response to halothane and caffeine. In vivo, no evidence of an MH response was detected following induction or maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol. Our results and literature review are in agreement that propofol is a 'safe' induction and maintenance agent in MHS patients. Propofol can be used for muscle biopsy anaesthesia because it does not alter the sensitivity of diagnostic muscle biopsy testing.