MHAUS Newsletter, October 2009
In this issue:

MH Mini-Conferences A Great Success

The MH mini-conferences held last month in Oklahoma City, OK and Latham, NY were very successful.  There were 45 attendees at the Oklahoma City conference and 82 attendees at the Latham conference.

 

“The real highlight of the (Oklahoma City) conference was mixing dantrolene supplied by U.S. WorldMeds,” said Dr. Tae Kim.  Drs. Kim and Shukry were guest speakers at the Oklahoma City conference.  To view a video clip of mixing dantrolene, visit http://medical.mhaus.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Content.Display/PagePK/MixingDantroleneDemo.cfm

 

“The contracture test video was a great hit also,” said Dr. Shukry.  To view a video clip of the Caffeine Halothane Contracture Test, visit http://medical.mhaus.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/video.display/videoId/1.cfm

 

“Drs. Brandom and Adragna held a panel discussion (at the Latham conference) and went over what you would actually do in a step-by-step scenario of a MH mock drill, which brought lots of questions and feedback from the audience,” said Fay Kellogg, MHAUS Fulfillment Administrator, who organized the events along with Lydia Friedman, head of the MHAUS Patient Liaison Committee.

 

Both conferences followed the same format.  Attendees at the conferences included nurses, family members, and medical doctors.  This was the first year that two MH mini-conferences were held.

 

MHAUS plans to hold more such conferences in the future.  The conferences provide updates by medical professionals on current MH research and testing, which includes the latest on molecular genetic testing, as well as addresses any questions posed by those attending.

 

If you’re interested in scheduling an MH mini-conference in your area, contact MHAUS via email to fay@mhaus.org

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MHAUS Recognition Reception Scheduled for October 19

You are cordially invited to attend the upcoming Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States “Recognition Reception” on October 19, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel Bayside C Room, 4th Floor 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA.

 

The annual reception is an opportunity for friends of MHAUS to get together and at the same time honor those who have contributed to our goal of improving patient care related to MH and related disorders.  The reception honors the 2009 Hotline Partnership Award, given to highlight the partnership between a Hotline Consultant and a Medical Professional contacting the MH Hotline for help; the Daniel Massik – MHAUS Anesthesiology Residents Award; and the Outstanding Dedication to MHAUS Award.  A variety of other awards will be awarded as well as a brief update on progress in MH research and patient care.

 

Please contact Gloria Artist via phone to (607) 674-7901, fax to (607) 674-7910, or email Gloria@mhaus.org.

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MH Hotline Consultant Workshop & Panel Discussion Of Hotline Cases Scheduled For ASA

What’s it like to be a MH Hotline Consultant?  Find out during the American Society of Anesthesiologists Meeting in New Orleans, October 17-21, when MHAUS will host an MH Hotline Consultant workshop.

 

Volunteers will play the role of the Hotline Consultant while an actual Hotline Consultant portrays the caller.  Under the direction and mentorship of experienced Hotline Consultants, participants will serve as telephone consultants to simulated practitioners calling with various dilemmas.  These workshop calls are taken from actual calls presented over the years.  Each simulated conversation will be followed by a small group discussion.

 

The goal of the workshop is to advance knowledge of the real world presentations of MH and MH-like syndromes in the context of telephone consulting, with its inherent limitations, including lack of visual and environmental cues and lack of non-verbal communication hints.

 

Also, a panel discussion of Hotline cases will be held October 18, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Morial Convention Center Room 343.  Dr. Brandom will moderate and will present one case, as will Drs. Tobin and Weglinski.

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MH-Related Abstracts Presented At ASA Meeting

A number of MH-related abstracts will be presented during the American Society of Anesthesiologists Meeting in New Orleans, October 17-21.

“Using Activated Charcoal Filters To Prepare Newer Anesthesia Machines for MH-Susceptible Patients” (A302), October 17, 2009, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM, Room 357

 

“Outcome Evaluation after Muscle Biopsy for Malignant Hyperthermia Diagnostics” (A484), October 18, 2009, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Room 356

 

“The Association between Exertional Rhabdomyolysis and Malignant Hyperthermia” (A854), October 19, 2009, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM, Room 355

 

“An Update on the Ryanodine Receptor Gene Type One Variants Found in the MHS Population of the USA” (A889), October 19, 2009, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Room Area P

 

“Prevalence of Malignant Hyperthermia Due to Anesthesia in Ambulatory Surgery Patients” (A1521), October 21, 2009, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Room Area A

 

“Local Halothane Injection Differentiates between MHS and Individuals with Idiopatic hyperCKemia” (A481), October 18, 2009, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, Room 356

 

For more information about the ASA schedule of events, or to register, visit http://www2.asahq.org/web/index.asp

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JHP Pharmaceuticals Introduces A Dantrium® IV (dantrolene sodium for injection), Rapidly Mixing At 20 Seconds

JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC announced today that it had developed, and received approval from the FDA for Dantrium® IV (dantrolene sodium for injection), a rapidly mixing product.  Dantrium® IV now reconstitutes in approximately 20 seconds, which is four times faster than before, saving valuable time and effort during a malignant hyperthermia (MH) emergency.

 

To order Dantrium® IV (dantrolene sodium for injection), the rapidly mixing product directly from JHP Pharmaceuticals, please call 1.877.547.4547 or fax 1.866.923.4547.  Dantrium® IV is also available through your local distributer.

 

To learn more about JHP Pharmaceuticals, visit http://www.jhppharma.com/

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MHAUS President Reflects On MH Death

In May 2006, MHAUS President Dr. Henry Rosenberg received a call from the medical examiners office in New York City.  The call was in regard to the death of a 21-year-old-man.

 

The death occurred a day or so after surgery in an ambulatory surgery center.  That began a several year ordeal that finally led to a settlement of legal proceeding against the ambulatory center, and the anesthesiologist, the company that employed the anesthesiologist, among others.

 

Read the full story in President’s October Blog at http://www.mhaus.org/presidentsblog/

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MHAUS Web Presence Spans Globe

The MHAUS web site remains the number one source of information for our community.

Approximately 186,569 people visit the site each month, with 53% of those returning to the site within a 24-hour period.

MHAUS' presence on Facebook is growing rapidly with approximately 65 people joining the cause each month since it began April 2008.

Some 1200 patients and medical professionals located throughout the world use Facebook to ask questions, making comments, and requesting information. Thirty-five percent of those regularly communicate with us about their condition, and 3% actually help us spread the word by posting information we send to them such as press releases, events, general information and the president’s blog; and .05% want to organize a local MHAUS group effort in their community to raise awareness and funds.  All good news!

In addition to the US, MHAUS communicates with people from: Australia, Cambodia, Cameron, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Israel, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and United States Army, and Venezuela.

If you have questions or comments please contact Michael Wesolowski at 607-674-7901x207 or michael@mhaus.org

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