Malignant hyperthermia and the conscious patient.

A 53 year old obese male presented with the signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis and a family history suggesting the possibility of a malignant hyperthermia trait. In spite of spinal anaesthesia the patient developed malignant hyperthermia during the appendicectomy and the attack was successfully aborted with the early use of dantrolene sodium (Dantrium, Norwich Eaton).