Which common neuromuscular blocker can lead to malignant hyperthermia?

Malignant hyperthermia is a rare but life-threatening condition often triggered by certain anesthetic agents and neuromuscular blockers. Succinylcholine is the neuromuscular blocker associated with this reaction due to its rapid action and impact on calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells. When succinylcholine is administered, it can cause a hypermetabolic state in genetically susceptible individuals, leading to a rapid increase in muscle metabolism, elevated temperatures, and other metabolic disturbances.

This heightened reaction is primarily due to a genetic mutation affecting calcium release channels in skeletal muscle, known as ryanodine receptors. In patients predisposed to malignant hyperthermia, the use of succinylcholine can therefore precipitate the crisis. Other neuromuscular blockers, while they do provide muscle relaxation, do not carry the same risk of inducing this severe reaction in susceptible individuals. Thus, succinylcholine stands out in this context as the common neuromuscular blocker linked to malignant hyperthermia.