Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVETo determine the efficacy of dantrolene sodium in the treatment of heatstroke.
DESIGNRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
SETTINGHeatstroke center in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
PATIENTSFifty-two adult patients with heatstroke.
INTERVENTIONSPatients were assigned to receive either dantrolene sodium (2 mg/kg body weight iv) or placebo. Conventional cooling therapy was initiated in all.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the mean cooling times for the treatment and control groups (67.9 vs. 69 min). There was only one death in the control group. Complications were seen in six (23%) patients receiving dantrolene sodium and seven (27%) patients receiving placebo; the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the mean number of hospital days (4.7 ± 2.0 vs. 2.9 ± 0.9 days).
CONCLUSIONTreatment with dantrolene sodium at the dose used, did not prove beneficial to patients with heatstroke. (Crit Care Med 1991; 19:176)