Malignant hyperthermia associated with enflurane anesthesia: a case report.

Malignant hyperthermia syndrome associated with various anesthetic agents has been well documented, but none has been reported with enflurane (Ethrane). This particular case is the first involving exposure for the second time to enflurane anesthesia after a six-month interval in which malignant hyperthermia resulted. A patient subject to malignant hyperthermia does not necessarily develop rigidity after succinylcholine for the intubation as noticed in this case. However, with the abnormal production of heat in the soda lime canister with tachycardia, tachypnea, rapidly rising body temperature and hypertonicity of skeletal muscles during anesthesia one should suspect malignant hyperthermia. The treatment of malignant hyperthermia involves cooling procedures, correction of acidosis, use of steroids and procainamide, and acetaminophen to facilitate lowering the body temperature.