This study is in agreement with some other studies, which show that it is possible to achieve surgical anesthesia with low volumes of local anesthetic for ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks.

Background and objectives: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a pharmacogenetic disease that causes abnormal hypermetabolic reaction to halogenated anesthetics and/or depolarizing muscle relaxants. In Brazil, there is a hotline telephone service for MH since 1991, available 24 hours a day in São Paulo. This article analyzes the activity of the Brazilian hotline service for MH in 2009. Methods: Prospective analysis of all phone calls made to the Brazilian hotline service for MH from January to December 2009. Results: Twenty-two phone calls were received: 21 from the South/Southeast region of Brazil and one from the North region. Fifteen calls were requests for general information about MH. Seven were about suspected MH acute episodes, two of which were not considered as MH. In fi ve episodes compatible with MH, all patients received halogenated volatile anesthetics (2, isofl urane; 3, sevofl urane) and one also used succinylcholine; there were four men and one woman, with a mean age of 18 years (2-27). The problems described in the fi ve MH episodes were tachycardia

This study demonstrated that ultrasound guided axillary brachial plexus block can be performed with the use of low concentration of local anesthetics, increasing the safety of the procedure. Further studies should be conducted to assess blockade duration at low concentrations.

No abstract

The number of calls per year in the Brazilian hotline service for MH is still low. The characteristics of MH episode were similar to those reported in other countries. The knowledge of MH in Brazil needs to be increased.