Malignant hyperpyrexia: A dread complication

We are, indeed, fortunate in the Anesthesia Department at North Carolina Baptist Hospital to have an excellent supply of equipment. Yet, we are guilty, at times, of failing to take full advantage of it. A prime example is the temperature probe, a valuable aid in the diagnosis of malignant hyperpyrexia. In fact, it is so important that failure to monitor body temperature during anesthesia may have medical-legal implications. Consider for a minute that you have a limited supply of temperature monitoring probes. You must be selective of each patient that is to have his temperature monitored. How thorough can you be in your pre-operative screening of that patient? Which patient is to be suspected of possibly developing malignant hyperpyrexia? Is it the 50-yearold or the 2-year-old? The purpose of my paper is to try to answer these ques. tions and others.