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MH an inherited condition
The condition that causes a sudden increase of extreme body energy usage after being exposed to anesthetics used for surgery is called malignant hyperthermia. This condition occurs in people that have a genetic defect associated with the condition, causing them to be susceptible to this condition. Because of the genetic cause of this the medical condition is inherited. Sure signs of this would be a family history of deaths during surgery where general anesthetics were used, or significantly increased body temperatures after having been sedated in order to undergo surgery. Currently, it is possible to test a person's DNA for susceptibility to the condition.
For people with an MH history, or family, where members have the condition it is crucial to let their doctors know about it, especially when surgery is involved in the treatment. In the case of children it would be advisable to wear a medical alert bracelet for emergency situations. If known, MH can be prevented by avoiding the use of general anesthesia. When the condition is known, instead of the usual anesthetics, alternatives like spinal, epidural, or nerve block anesthesia can be used instead, which is safe for the patient.
In case a situation does arise during surgery, it is vital that all triggering anesthetic agents are stopped and an antidote called dantrolene is administered to the patient. During this, the breathing and vital signs of the patients need to be closely monitored. In extreme cases special cooling blankets and ice might be required in order to lower the body temperature.
After a case of MH during surgery, it is important to test the family members for the condition in order to prevent repetition of the problem during surgery due to the fact that the medical personnel was unaware of it. In case a genetic defect was found during the tests, related to MH, the family members have a 50% chance of the condition developing.
On the other hand it should be noted that people where the tests show genetic defects associated with MH, may never develop the condition. Still it is best not to risk the condition to develop while undergoing surgery, because in many cases the end result is fatal or causes severe organ damage, including brain damage. Therefore it is best to be safe and not to use general anesthetics on a patient that has been tested positive for MH.
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