Cardiac arrest following inhalation induction of anaesthesia in a child with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

Cardiac arrest occurred in a 5 1/2-year-old child with suspected Duchenne's muscular dystrophy ten minutes following induction of anaesthesia with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. No muscle relaxants were administered. The cardiac arrest was associated with hyperkalaemia, acidosis, myoglobinuria, elevated serum creatine phosphokinase and a 1.6 degrees C rise in temperature. The child made a complete recovery after receiving 90 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.