[Malignant hyperthermia in a 41-year-old woman]

Malignant hyperthermia is one of the most devastating crises encountered in anaesthesia and it frequently occurs unexpectedly. Although malignant hyperthermia develops in young individuals (mean age approximately 22 years), older people can also be affected. The case of a 41-year-old woman with a history of several previously uneventful general anaesthetics is described. She developed the complete symptomatology of malignant hyperthermia triggered by halothane anaesthesia, with tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, cyanosis, combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis and hyperpyrexia. Because treatment with dantrolene and hyperventilation with 100% O2 was started immediately, the symptoms of malignant hyperthermia were stopped within a short time. It should always be remembered, that the life threatening crises which can be caused by malignant hyperthermia can occur at any age and even after several uneventful anaesthetics.