MALIGNANT HYPERPYREXIA Two Case Reports BY

Detailed reports are presented of two cases of malignant hyperpyrexia occurring in two males. Both patients died despite early recognition of the syndrome and vigorous treatment. The term malignant hyperpyrexia has recently come into the vocabulary of anaesthetists follow-ing reports (Leading Article, 1968) about patients who have developed a precipitate rise of body temperature during a general anaesthetic, most of whom have subsequently died. The term is associated with an ill defined syndrome, compris-ing: (i) A high temperature occurring after the induc-tion of anaesthesia in an apparently fit patient who may have had previous uneventful general anaesthetics