[Duchenne muscular dystrophy and anesthesia. A retrospective study]

This retrospective study comprising 37 patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy undergoing 56 general anaesthesias shows that 1) no atypical reactions occurred when suxamethonium was omitted, that 2) wherever atypical reactions were observed they were always preceded by the use of halothane and suxamethonium. Haemodynamic instability and intubation difficulties were the major complications encountered. Preoperative optimization and cautious anaesthetic practice avoiding suxamethonium and preferably also avoiding potent inhaled anaesthetics is recommended.