Hirosato Kikuchi

Professor Hirosato Kikuchi graduated from Hiroshima University School of Medicine in 1968. He continued his academic path at Hiroshima University, where in 1974, together with his mentor Prof. Michio Morio and his colleague Osafumi Yuge, helped to establish a list of clinical diagnostic criteria for malignant hyperthermia emphasizing on hypermetabolic signs other than the rapid rate of temperature rise.

He completed graduate studies at Yale University in 1978 and went back to Hiroshima. He moved to Tokyo in 1990, where he became Professor and Chair of the Anesthesia Department at Toho University School of Medicine.

Prof. Kikuchi championed the calcium-induced calcium release test for diagnosis of MH susceptibility in Japan, using the method of chemically permeabilized single muscle fibers developed by Makoto Endo. He established research and diagnostic laboratories for MH at Toho University, finally moving to Saitama Medical University in the early 2000's, where he remained working until the time of his death.

He introduced me to anesthesia and mentored me wisely until the present day, shedding light in my path as a human being, a clinician and MH researcher.

May his memory be blessed.

Carlos Ibarra