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24-HOUR MH HOTLINE

800-644-9737

Outside NA: 001-209-417-3722
FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

24-HOUR MH HOTLINE: 800-644-9737
Outside NA: 001-209-417-3722
FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

Blog

Blog

Regular updates by our President, MHAUS staff, and guest contributors.

The claims and opinions expressed in website blogs are those of the authors and not necessarily the views or opinions of MHAUS, its staff or its advertisers.

Towards a definition and classification of MH and MH-like syndromes
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
October 28, 2010

Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a life threatening syndrome characterized by hypermetabolism, hyperthermia, acidosis, muscle contraction, muscle membrane breakdown, hyperkalemia and rhabdomyolysis. The syndrome occurs as a result of exposure to certain drugs and /or environmental conditions.

Comments (4)
What More Is there to Learn about Malignant Hyperthermia?
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
September 30, 2010

On September 20, 2010 I had the privilege of being a visiting professor at the University of Colorado, Denver Medical School and delivering the annual Hermann B. Stein MD, endowed lecture. Dr. Stein practiced anesthesiology in Denver for many years in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. His son then became an anesthesiologist and practiced the specialty for close to 40 years. One of his daughters is now a practicing anesthesiologist in New England.  Three generations of anesthesiologists. Pretty striking.

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Further thoughts on the Definition of MH
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
August 13, 2010

Over the past several months, since our April scientific conference, I have been thinking about the question “How should we define MH”?  Sounds like a pretty straightforward question, but in reality it is quite complex.

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The Evolution of Our Understanding of Malignant Hyperthermia Syndrome
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
June 7, 2010

July 2010 will mark the 50th anniversary of a publication that identified an inherited condition that would eventually be named Malignant Hyperthermia Syndrome.

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The Logistics of Carrying out an MH Drill
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
April 22, 2010

In March of 2010 we carried out an MH drill at my institution.  It was an important exercise and we learned several important lessons.

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Myths Concerning Malignant Hyperthermia
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
March 19, 2010

Over the past many years since MH was first described, a lot has been learned about both the clinical presentations as well as the underlying problems that cause malignant hyperthermia. Of course there is much more to learn but often as new information is accumulated those ideas or clinical recommendations that were based on concepts that have been disproved remain.  In this blog I will describe ten myths related to MH that hotline consultants still hear either from callers or at national meetings

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March is MH Awareness Month: What you can do to make a difference
MHAUS Staff
February 1, 2010

Thanks to the efforts of many patients and health care providers who have an interest in the problem of MH, many states will declare March to be MH Awareness and Training month. This effort will serve to alert the community of patients and providers to the problem of MH and prevent deaths and disability from MH.

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What lies ahead for MHAUS
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
January 20, 2010

As we begin the New Year and the new decade, it is appropriate to review the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to what lies ahead for the next year(s).

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Temperature Measurment During Anesthesia: Just Do It!
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
December 3, 2009

Advances in anesthesia care over the past several decades have changed the way anesthetics are administered. Compared to even three decades ago anesthesiology has changed from an art to a science (although still a somewhat inexact science). One of the crucial developments in anesthesiology that is responsible for the improved outcomes in anesthesia care is the exact measurement of physiologic changes.

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What We Did at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
November 13, 2009

Each October thousands of anesthesiologists gather together for five days under the auspices of the American Society of Anesthesiologists for an annual comprehensive meeting on issues related to anesthesiology. The meeting consists of scientific presentations, commercial exhibits, and discussions of political and organizational issues related to the specialty.

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Malignant Hyperthermia Takes Another Young Life
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
October 2, 2009

In early May 2006 I received a phone call from the Medical Examiner’s office in New York City.  The reason for the call was a death of a young man a day or so previously in after surgery in an ambulatory surgery center on the upper East Side of Manhattan.

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CALCIUM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK!
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
September 8, 2009

MHAUS is fortunate to have many of the world's experts on MH serving currently or in the past on our hotline and/or Professional Advisory Council.  I will therefore from time to time, ask one of them to fill in for me in writing the monthly blog. Dr. Tom Nelson, who is now retired, spent many years researching the presentation and pathophysiology of MH in animals and in man.  I and members of the MH community have learned a great deal from him.  I think you will enjoy reading his views on Calcium. 

Comments (3)
What Accounts for the Variability of Expression of Malignant Hyperthermia?
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
August 27, 2009
One of the persistent and recurring questions related to Malignant Hyperthermia, as is true for many other disorders, is why the syndrome progresses at different rates in different patients and what accounts for the varied manifestations of MH.
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O Canada - Canadian Contributions to Understanding of MH
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
July 1, 2009

Like the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Canadian Anesthesiologists Society holds an annual educational meeting for its members. This past June MHAUS exhibited at the Canadian meeting. This was the first time in many years that we elected to attend the Canadian meeting.  The reasons for this are several.

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Ten Reasons for MHAUS
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
June 17, 2009
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the US was formed in 1981 in order to fill an unmeet need concerning awareness of MH and its consequences by physicians, nurses and other health care workers.
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Ten Reasons for MHAUS
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
June 17, 2009
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the US was formed in 1981 in order to fill an unmeet need concerning awareness of MH and its consequences by physicians, nurses and other health care workers.
Comments (3)
How Well Prepared are Anesthesia Teams for dealing with an MH crisis?
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
May 21, 2009

There is no doubt that over the past 30 years MH has gone from a virtually unknown, highly fatal problem to one that is well described in every textbook of anesthesia, surgery, medicine, and nursing.

Comments (2)
Malignant Hyperthermia, Heat Stroke and Muscular Dystrophy: Is there a connection?
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
April 17, 2009

Those of you who are reading this “blog” undoubtedly know that MH is an inherited disorder characterized by abnormal structure and function of a specific calcium channel within skeletal muscle.

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A New Advance in the Understanding of MH: What it May Mean for the Diagnosis of MH
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
March 18, 2009
Those of you who are reading this blog probably know that one of the major accomplishments related to MH in recent years has been the introduction of a DNA test, usually obtained by a blood sample, to diagnose MH susceptibility.  Three  laboratories offer such testing , two for the general public and one for the military.
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The Epidemiology of MH in the United States and Two New MHAUS Programs of Interest
Dr. Henry Rosenberg MD, CPE
February 11, 2009
As I mentioned in my last blog, one of the important questions regarding MH is the incidence of and the mortality from MH. Two recent studies are addressing these questions. One has been published, the other is in review.
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The mission of MHAUS is to promote optimum care and
scientific understanding of MH and related disorders.