Increased carbon dioxide production in two patients with malignant hyperpyrexia and its control by dantolene

Two patients with successfully treated malignant hyperpyrexia are reported. Carbon dioxide output, calculated from the respiratory minute volume and PaCO2, was found to be greatly increased in both patients. In the patient who received dantolene 7.5 mg kg-1 the carbon dioxide output decreased rapidly to normal values, whereas in the other patient carbon dioxide output remained increased for several hours.