[Case of muscle rigidity by remifentanil just before the end of surgery].

This report shows a rare case of muscle rigidity by remifentanil just before the end of surgery. A 71-year-old man was scheduled for microvascular decompression to cure trigeminal neuralgia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, suxamethonium and remifentanil 0.26 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). Thirty minutes before the end of surgery, intratracheal pressure suddenly increased over 40 cmH2O, which was induced by muscle rigidity and the patient was difficult to be ventilated under anesthesia with sevoflurane 1% and remifentanil 0.05 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). After giving muscle relaxants, the patient was uneventful. We should pay attention to muscle rigidity even using low doses of remifentanil.