AAPD-QE Practice Exam 2025 - Free AAPD-QE Practice Questions and Study Guide

In malignant hyperthermia, there is a significant increase in carbon dioxide due to uncontrolled muscle metabolism. This condition often arises in response to certain anesthetics or stress in genetically susceptible individuals, leading to a hypermetabolic state in skeletal muscles. As the muscle cells become overly activated, they increase their metabolic activity, which results in enhanced production of carbon dioxide as a byproduct of cellular respiration.

With this heightened metabolic state, there is a drastic increase in the breakdown of glucose and the subsequent aerobic and anaerobic processes that generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for energy, all of which produce CO2. The increased temperature and metabolic demands further exacerbate this condition, leading to a considerable rise in carbon dioxide production. Therefore, uncontrolled muscle metabolism directly contributes to the elevation of CO2 levels during malignant hyperthermia.

In contrast, mechanisms like decreased lung capacity, decreased blood flow, or reduced oxygen consumption have different impacts on overall gas exchange and metabolic processes, but they do not directly cause the excessive carbon dioxide production seen in this particular scenario.