Malignant Hyperthermia

In susceptible individuals, malignant hyperthermia (MH) can be triggered by various anaesthetics during surgery. First described in 1960, research since then has concentrated on reducing the very high mortality rate associated with MH. This work comprises a report of the proceedings of a recent meeting dedicated to a study of the history and incidence of MH, the 3rd International Symposium on MH, held in Hiroshima in 1994. The text outlines the discussions held by specialists about the most up-to-date findings, from the point of view of clinical classification and history. It also relates their discussion of the incidence of MH, based on the evidence of epidemiology, diagnostic muscle testing, genetics and biochemistry.