Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of using dantrolene in the treatment of Malignant Hyperthermia?

1. To induce unconsciousness

2. To assist in muscle relaxation

3. To restore normal metabolic function

4. To reverse the effects of anesthetics

The correct answer is: To assist in muscle relaxation

Dantrolene is primarily used to manage Malignant Hyperthermia (MH), a severe reaction to certain anesthetic agents that leads to a rapid increase in metabolic activity and muscle rigidity. The mechanism of dantrolene involves blocking calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum within skeletal muscle cells. This action directly reduces muscle contractions and prevents the excessive muscle metabolism that characterizes MH. As a result, dantrolene effectively provides muscle relaxation, which is crucial for controlling the symptoms of MH and preventing associated complications like acidosis and hyperkalemia. The other options, while related to anesthesia and muscle function, do not represent the primary action of dantrolene in the context of treating Malignant Hyperthermia. Inducing unconsciousness is a role of certain anesthetics, restoring metabolic function involves a broader array of treatments, and reversing anesthetic effects involves specific agents designed for that purpose. Therefore, the role of dantrolene specifically as a muscle relaxant is what makes it the correct answer in this scenario.