Anesthesia-induced rhabdomyolysis in a patient with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

Abstract

A case of acute rhabdomyolysis associated with severe cardiac arrhythmias in a child with unsuspected Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is reported. Children undergoing corrective orthopedic surgery or other operations where muscle disease may be present are at risk to develop such problems. The possibility of underlying muscle disease in such patients should be carefully considered before the use of succinylcholine is assumed to be safe.