Why is testing of relatives needed if a nontriggering anesthetic can be administered? Nontriggering anesthetic agents are not routinely used in surgery, and problems can arise in, say, emergency situations when MH susceptibility in a patient is unknown to the surgical team. Testing enables patients to learn their status and to obtain a medical alert bracelet.
What about the child in the opening scenario? It is evident that the child in the scenario at the beginning of this article was not adequately screened for MH. Given that the child is >5 years of age, he should undergo the CHCT. You would be wise to presume that his first-degree relatives are also susceptible until proven otherwise by the CHCT. With children not meeting the age or weight requirement for CHCT, make sure the family understands the potential severity of MH and immediately inform the surgeon and anesthesiologist of the family history so appropriate precautions, including arrangements for nontriggering anesthetics, can be put into place.
CORRESPONDENCE Gregory L. Rose, MD, Department of Anesthesia, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536; glrose0@uky.edu
