Anesthesia Technologist Practice Exam

What is the purpose of administering Sodium Bicarbonate to a patient with triggered malignant hyperthermia (MH)?

1. To increase urine output

2. To reverse acidosis

3. To provide energy

4. To treat infection

The correct answer is: To reverse acidosis

Administering Sodium Bicarbonate during a malignant hyperthermia crisis is primarily aimed at reversing metabolic acidosis. Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening condition that can occur in susceptible individuals during or after exposure to certain anesthetic agents, leading to excessive calcium release within muscle cells and a rapid increase in metabolic activity. This hypermetabolic state produces lactic acid as a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, resulting in a significant decrease in blood pH (acidosis). Sodium Bicarbonate acts as a buffering agent, helping to neutralize the excess acidity in the bloodstream. By increasing the bicarbonate concentration, it raises the blood pH, which can mitigate the detrimental effects of acidosis on the body's physiological processes. This is crucial for stabilizing cardiac and muscle function during the crisis. The other options do not align with the primary purpose of Sodium Bicarbonate in this context. Increasing urine output is related to renal function and fluid management, providing energy is not relevant to the acute treatment of MH, and treating infection does not apply in this particular emergency situation. Thus, the administration of Sodium Bicarbonate directly relates to improving the patient’s acid-base balance, making reversing acidosis the correct response.