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We at MHAUS were stunned at such an outcome. Why didn't this
patient respond to clearly adequate doses of dantrolene, given as
rapidly as possible, while other patients have? At this point, we don't
know. Which is why follow up in this case, as in every MH incident,
was critical.
• First, the family had to be informed, counseled and, because MH is
a hereditary disorder, advised to notify other closely related family members of the MH diagnosis and the importance of taking precautions in
the event that they ever required anesthesia.
• Second, an in-depth medical history would have to be taken to
determine whether the patient or any other family members had previously experienced anesthesia difficulties or muscle disorders.
• Third, since MH is driven by genetic mutations, testing needed to
be done on the deceased patient's tissue in order to determine if one
of the known mutations associated with MH were present. A confirmed diagnosis would let other family members be tested for that
mutation.
When the medical examiner conducted the patient's autopsy, he sent
tissue specimens for genetic testing, which revealed that the patient
did have a mutation at a site where other MH mutations had been
reported, although his mutation was slightly different. An estimated 1
in 2,000 people has a gene mutation that's been associated with MH
susceptibility, although recent research suggests such mutations may
be even more common. Not everyone who has a genetic defect linked
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