Malignant hyperthermia and pediatric urology.

The malignant hyperthermia syndrome is a rare drug-induced hypermetabolic syndrome characterized by muscular rigidity, hyperpyrexia and systemic acidosis. Malignant hyperthermia developed in 2 boys during anesthesia for hypospadias repair and both had a favorable outcome. Recognition of the early signs and symptoms of malignant hyperthermia, and prompt treatment using dantrolene sodium require an increased index of suspicion and familiarity with this symptom complex, which has an increased incidence in children.