British journal of anaesthesia
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A previously fit 12-yr-old boy, who had no previous history of anaesthesia, underwent general anaesthesia using isoflurane for an elective circumcision. After uneventful surgery and anaesthesia, he suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest in the recovery room. Prompt oxygenation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were instituted. ⋯ In recent years, largely based on case report literature, there has been a shift in opinion as to the cause of such adverse perioperative events. What was previously thought to be malignant hyperpyrexia (MH) is now considered to be anaesthesia-induced rhabdomyolysis, an alternative and distinct reaction. The distinguishing feature of anaesthesia-induced rhabdomyolysis from MH is an acute rhabdomyolysis, without preceding hypermetabolism.