A case of severe muscular rigidity in a premature male infant born by Caesarean Section under general anaesthesia is described. A probable diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia was supported by the clinical symptoms of muscular rigidity and cyanosis, a ereatinine phosphokinase of 24,630 I.U. (Normal 0-100) and a urinary myoglobin of 248 mg/I (normal 6-35). The muscle tone and laboratory values slowly returned to normal over a period of days. Anaesthetic management for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt performed at seven weeks of age included pre and postoperative treatment with dantrolene. No crisis occurred at this time. The parents, who have normal CPK and a negative family history, were advised to treat the child as if he had malignant hyperthermia until such time as a definitive diagnosis can be made.
ANAESTHETIC AGENTS can cause acute "z and chronic 3"4 illness in operating-room personnel and contribute to atmospheric pollution in hospltals. 9 Several professionaP -s and national ~s bodies have proposed guidelines concerning this problem.
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