Porcine malignant hyperthermia. I: Metabolic and physiological changes.

Porcine malignant hyperthermia was studied in seven Pietrain pigs under standardized experimental conditions. In five animals malignant hyperthermia was triggered with suxamethonium and halothane, but in two pigs suxamethonium alone was used. Characteristic metabolic and physiological changes were found and these are discussed with regard to a possible mechanism to explain the malignant nature of the syndrome.