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James Chapin, M.D. |
Malignant Hyperthermia, or MH, is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder of muscle. When MH-susceptible individuals are given a triggering anesthetic, this disorder may fatally-impair the body’s ability to supply oxygen, remove carbon dioxide and regulate temperature.
Dr. Chapin received the award for his efforts on Aug. 21, 2006, when he worked the MHAUS Hotline and helped another anesthesiologist successfully treat a 72-year-old female who began showing signs of MH while undergoing cardiac surgery.
Dr. Chapin gave the advice needed to manage the patient and followed-up with several phone calls over the next few days continuing to provide advice and monitoring. After much discussion, Dr. Chapin and other physicians concluded that the case was probably MH and recommended the patient undergo a muscle biopsy.
“This case is a prime example of how the anesthesiologist and our hotline consultant combine the best expertise available to work together rapidly in the best interests of the patient,” said Henry Rosenberg, M.D., president of MHAUS and director of the department of medical education and clinical research at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. “The hotline is our primary live saving service. It is one reason we have reduced MH deaths from eighty percent to less than five percent.”
Dr. Chapin received his honor at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in October.
The MH hotline provides medical professional’s access to MH-expert anesthesiologists who give their time for crisis treatment on suspected MH cases at no charge. The hotline consultants provide added expertise and support for an MH crisis or to answer pre, post or intraoperative anesthesia questions.
The MH hotline phone number is 1-800 MH-HYPER (1-800-644-9737).