[Fatal arrhythmia following administration of suxamethonium in a postpartum woman subsequently found to have dystrophia myotonica].

A 28-year-old woman died of irreversible ventricular fibrillation after administration of succinylcholine because of post partum curettage. Afterwards it became known she had undiagnosed myotonic dystrophy. She also had metabolic acidosis because of haemorrhagic hypovolaemia resulting in a probably elevated serum K+ concentration preoperatively. Succinylcholine given to patients with myotonic dystrophy may lead to life threatening hyperkalaemia and cardiac arrest. Therapy should be aimed at immediate lowering of serum K+ concentration with calcium, sodium bicarbonate and hyperventilation.