SHERBURNE – The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States will be hosting an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at its national headquarters located at 1 North Main Street in Sherburne. Tour the new offices and talk with board members and staff about what Malignant Hyperthermia is and how hospitals and outpatient surgery centers manage this fascinating and often misunderstood heat related syndrome. There will be giveaways and casual refreshment.
Malignant Hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of 2,000 people. Once triggered, the rapid progressive series of chain events include a body temperature of up to 107 degrees, muscle rigidity, system-wide organ failure, and, if untreated, eventual death. MH is often experienced in individuals undergoing, what was expected to be, routine surgery; and in rare cases, MH can happen outside of the operating room.
The incidence of MH is low, but, if untreated, the mortality rate is high. Introduction of a treatment drug and advances in the understanding of MH have saved many lives since the syndrome was first described in the 1960s.
About the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS): Founded in 1981 MHAUS promotes optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders by encouraging healthcare professionals and patients and families to prepare for MH through education and testing. MHAUS offers an MH Hotline that provides healthcare professionals’ access to experts in MH crisis treatment 24-hours a day.
MH Episodes can happen at any time. The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States will always be ready to provide assistance when you need it. But the best way to protect your patients and your facility is to be prepared before it’s too late.