Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following use of succinylcholine and enflurane: report of a case.

A case of succinylcholine and enflurane induced rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuric acute renal failure in a mentally retarded patient is presented. The report illustrates some principles of management and the correlation of laboratory findings with the syndrome. When using general anesthesia in mentally retarded patients it is recommended that: 1) a careful personal and family past anesthetic history be taken; 2) drugs and apparatus for treatment of the crisis be available before anesthesia is induced; 3) the use of succinylcholine and potent inhalation anesthetic agents be avoided; 4) there is early diagnosis by prompt recognition of the clinical signs; and 5) that body temperature monitoring and frequent observation of vital signs during and after an operation be carried out.