Oral Dantrolene Causing a Decrease in Vital Capacity, Recurrent Lung Collapse, and Respiratory Failure in a Spinal Cord Injury Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant used to treat malignant hyperthermia as well as muscle spasms in spinal cord injury patients. It is known to cause a decrease in skeletal muscle strength in humans, and inhibit diaphragm muscle strength in hamsters. There is at least one other case report of dantrolene leading to respiratory failure in a spinal cord injury patient. Here we present a case of a patient developing poor mucus clearance, lobar collapse and respiratoy failure after being started on dantrolene, and trend vital capacity and negative inspiratory force while titrating off dantrolene.