We need to set the record straight. An article about preparing for a malignant hyperthermia incident that appeared in October's Manager's Guide to Staff and Patient Safety stated that the rescue drug dantrolene should be mixed with saline solution. That's obviously not how it should be done. The article also contained numerical errors.

As many of you have pointed out to us, dantrolene should be reconstituted with preservative-free sterile water. Here's how to quickly calculate the needed dose:

1. Convert pounds into kilograms: 180 lbs. / 2.2 (conversion factor) = 81.82kg
2. Multiply the patient's mass by 2.5mg/kg to determine the initial dose: 81.82kg x 2.5mg/kg = 204.55mg
3. Determine how many vials you'll need to reconstitute: There are 20mg in each vial, so 204.55mg / 20mg = 10.23 vials

Each vial is reconstituted with 60cc of sterile water for injection. The dantrolene bolus must be given within 10 minutes of the diagnosis of MH, and may be repeated every 5 minutes until the hypermetabolism stops or the maximum dose of 10mg/kg is given. Treatment should continue for 48 hours after the episode at 1mg/kg every 4 hours.

Daniel Cook