[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1200 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1200

 Expressing support for designation of March as Malignant Hyperthermia 
                     Awareness and Training Month.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2010

Mr. McCotter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for designation of March as Malignant Hyperthermia 
                     Awareness and Training Month.

Whereas Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is an autosomal dominant genetic muscle 
        disorder which triggers a biochemical chain reaction when susceptible 
        individuals are administered volatile gaseous anesthetics like 
        enflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane, halothane, or the muscle relaxant 
        succinylcholine;
Whereas these anesthetics may cause a fast-acting, life-threatening crisis 
        characterized by a rise in heart rate, increased body metabolism, muscle 
        rigidity, high fever, cardiac arrest, brain damage, internal bleeding, 
        or death;
Whereas Malignant Hyperthermia could affect approximately 1 in every 5,000 
        anesthetics;
Whereas a person's susceptibility to the disorder may not be known prior to the 
        administration of anesthesia;
Whereas, without emergency therapy with the antidote, dantrolene sodium, the 
        patient has a greater than 85 percent chance of death;
Whereas medical professionals and medical facilities should keep Malignant 
        Hyperthermia training current in order to rapidly recognize and diagnose 
        the disorder;
Whereas recent research has concluded that 43 percent of hospitals, 68 percent 
        of ambulatory surgery centers, and 85 percent of oral surgery clinics in 
        the United States do not have the appropriate amount of the antidote to 
        fully treat a MH emergency;
Whereas a family's health history is an important diagnostic and reference tool 
        prior to surgery;
Whereas a patient's safety, in part, depends on clear communication between a 
        patient and their medical caregivers prior to surgery; and
Whereas the month of March would be an appropriate month to designate as 
        Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of Malignant Hyperthermia 
        Awareness and Training Month;
            (2) urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 
        cooperation with the medical community to provide the public 
        with information about Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) and guidance 
        for patients and caregivers to help diagnose the disorder 
        before a life-threatening crisis is triggered;
            (3) encourages medical professionals and medical facilities 
        in the United States to keep MH training current in order to 
        rapidly recognize and diagnose the disorder and to maintain an 
        appropriate supply of the drugs and equipment needed to 
        successfully treat a MH emergency; and
            (4) encourages families in the United States to document 
        their health history for the benefit of future generations.
                                 <all>