Volatile anesthetics and succinylcholine in cardiac ryanodine receptor defects.

Familial polymorphic (catecholaminergic) ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmogenic cardiac disorder caused by mutations of the myocardial isoform of the ryanodine receptor gene (RyR2). Mutations of the corresponding gene in the skeletal muscle (RyR1) predispose its carriers to malignant hyperthermia upon use of volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine, which further deteriorate the inherited intracellular calcium release disorder. We report a series of patients with cardiac RyR defects who underwent general anesthesia without complications. Succinylcholine and volatile anesthetics did not have a clinically significant effect on RyR2 defects.