Effect of dantrolene on leg metabolism in porcine malignant hyperthermia.

The effect of the intravenous administration of dantrolene 3.5 mg/kg body weight on leg metabolism during porcine malignant hyperthermia (MH) was investigated in six Pietrain pigs. Arterial pH improved only slowly after dantrolene and was associated with the continuing efflux of lactate from the leg. Oxygen uptake by the leg had returned to control values 30 minutes after dantrolene. Glucose production by the leg was observed during malignant hyperthermia but this was rapidly abolished by dantrolene. It is concluded that the most useful indices for assessing the adequacy of the treatment of MH are those which reflect changes in oxidative muscle metabolism.