SERUM AND URINARY MYOGLOBIN FOLLOWING AN ABORTED MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA REACTION

A 13-year-old boy presenting for correction of bat ears was anaestheti sed with thiopentone and suxamethonium, the administration of which wa s followed by jaw spasm, poor peripheral perfusion (without cyanosis) and marked tachycardia. The procedure was abandoned, dantrolene and Ri nger lactate IL were given intravenously and the patient regained cons ciousness 1 h later. Levels of serum myoglobin, urinary myoglobin and creatine kinase was followed until they returned to normal. Despite a peak serum myoglobin of 58 000 mu g.l(-1) and peak urinary level of 44 6 000 mu g.l(-1), no renal impairment occurred. Subsequent testing for susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia proved positive for the pati ent and four other members of the family.