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The best treatment
We follow the recommendations of the Malignant Hyperthermia
Association of the United States (MHAUS) and stock our MH cart
accordingly. And once a month we go through all our supplies to
check expiration dates. You should also have their 24-hour MH hotline
number (
800-644-9737
) posted in your ORs. MHAUS recommends hav-
ing the anesthesia provider use a cell phone to call them, rather than
tying up the only phone line to the room.
Of course the best way to treat MH is to prevent it from happening
at all. Every patient's history and physical should include questions
that can indicate a propensity for the condition: Have you or a family
member ever had a bad reaction to anesthesia? Have you or a family
member ever been hospitalized with heat stroke? Do you, or does
anyone in your family,
have a neuromuscular
disorder?
MH-susceptible
patients can still have
outpatient procedures,
but the anesthesia
provider needs to be
aware that all known
MH triggers are off
limits, including most
inhaled general anes-
thetics, such as isoflu-
rane, desflurane and
sevoflurane. Nitrous
oxide is not a trigger-
ing agent. Nor is
S U R G I C A L E M E R G E N C I E S
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