[Porphyria and anesthesia. A case report and a short review (author's transl)]

The most important facts for the anesthesiologist about porphyria are presented on the basis of an own case. The acute abdomen with unusual accompanying symptoms (tachycardia, neurologic and psychic disorders) should rise suspicion of possible porphyria. The clinical diagnosis is most important for the anesthesiologist, because barbiturates may cause fatalities in 50% of the cases. Halothane should be avoided, too. Every suspected case should be carefully investigated including the family. The symptomatic therapy of the severe porphyria-attack is presented in short.