Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States

06/19/2026

Congratulations to MHAUS President Stacey Watt, MD, who received the Buffalo Business First Excellence in Health Care Award. The award is an annual program that honors the top 25 high-achieving professionals in the Western New York medical and health services industry. The recognition highlights a wide variety of industry members who significantly improve how the health system operates in the region. Dr. Watt is Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Buffalo. She is also an MH Hotline Consultant.

06/09/2026

MHAUS Recommendation: Adverse effects of heat & exercise in relation to MH susceptibility:

Adverse Effects of Heat and Exercise in Relation to MH Susceptibility: Posted in 2012 Recommendations Any MHS (MH-susceptible) patient who experiences sudden collapse in association with

06/04/2026

The current issue of MHAUS' quarterly newsletter, The Communicator, features a cautionary story of exertional heat illness for MH-susceptible individuals. Other articles include guidance from an MH expert addressing concerns some MH-susceptible individuals have with dental procedures, tips on managing heat during the summer months, and a collection of the latest medical literature related to MH. Learn more here: https://my.mhaus.org/page/communicatorpast

05/26/2026

Research originating in Australia suggests the possibility of rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia diagnosis beyond the contracture test. Researchers describe a diagnostic alternative called a single muscle fiber calcium wave frequency (CaWFa) test. The test measures RyR1–mediated calcium release in small quantities of muscle tissue, which is obtained via a needle biopsy rather than the open excision of a contracture test. MHAUS Board Member and MH Hotline Consultant Kumar Belani, M.B.B.S., M.S., explores this topic deeper in the upcoming
Summer 2026 issue of MHAUS' quarterly newsletter The Communicator due out in July. You can watch the CaWFa test video here:

Single Muscle Fibre Calcium Wave Frequency Assay for Malignant Hyperthermia Diagnosis: an Exploratory Validation Study, Launikonis et al., DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005882

05/21/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Cynthia A. Wong on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA). This prestigious honor recognizes the enduring impact she has made on the organization and the field of anesthesiology throughout her exemplary career – through her leadership, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to excellence. The award was presented at the AUA Annual Meeting, held March 27–29 in Seattle, Washington, and hosted by the University of Washington. Dr. Wong has also served as an MHAUS MH Hotline Consultant since 1994. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Wong’s extraordinary contributions and this well-deserved recognition.

05/13/2026

Representatives of the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) recently participated in a special session of the Asian Malignant Hyperthermia Alliance (AMHA) held during the 17th Asian Australasian Congress of Anesthesiologists (AACA 2026) in Bangkok, Thailand. The session focused on how organizations such as MHAUS may serve as a resource for education, knowledge-sharing, and experience, while gaining a deeper understanding of regional priorities and needs. An article about the special session will appear in an upcoming issue of MHAUS' quarterly newsletter The Communicator. To learn more about the Asian Malignant Hyperthermia Alliance, visit:

AMHA GOAL The Asian Malignant Hyperthermia Alliance (AMHA) is a non-official, non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the challenges of malignant hyperthermia (MH). AMHA focuses on the newest trends in MH treatment, aiming to enhance early detection and prevention of this potentially fatal c...

05/04/2026

MHAUS joins other healthcare organizations in celebrating National Nurses Week, which begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. Within the week, May 8 is designated as National Student Nurses Day while National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year. Thank you to all the nurses - past, present, and future - for your dedication and expertise in providing patient care.

04/29/2026

Dr. Adam Jacob has spent his career keeping patients safe in the operating room. As a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist, he closely monitors every heartbeat and breath, adjusting anesthesia and responding to subtle changes in the body during surgery. But one risk does not appear on monitors or in a patient's medical history: Malignant Hyperthermia.

Until recently, Dr. Jacob did not know he carried that genetic risk. Like many people with Malignant Hyperthermia susceptibility, he had undergone anesthesia before without incident.

"I had no symptoms, no family history and no reason to suspect anything," Dr. Jacob says. "If I hadn't been part of a research study, my first sign could have been an emergency in the operating room."

Mayo Clinic uses DNA testing to identify malignant hyperthermia risk before surgery, preventing life-threatening reactions to anesthesia.

04/24/2026

In honor of Ron Litman, MD, former MH Hotline Medical Director and an internationally known and respected medical educator, author, and clinician, whose life was taken by leukemia five years ago, the Pediatric Anesthesia Article of the Day (PAAD), a publication he began during his cancer treatments, features an article submitted by friends and colleagues, “European Malignant Hyperthermia Group [EMHG] 2025 guidelines for the investigation of MH susceptibility.” The 2025 guideline update reflects the growing availability and clinical use of genetic testing while reaffirming the central role of IVCT when genetic testing is negative or inconclusive. While the guidelines originate from the EMHG, the article outlines how the diagnostic guidelines can improve patient care in the United States. Read the full article here:

Teeda Pinyavat, MD; Darlene Mashman, MD; Stacey Watt, MD

04/15/2026

Did you know MHAUS provides samples of MH-related letters and forms for free? Use them to aid in discussions and education about Malignant Hyperthermia with your family, healthcare professionals, schools, and insurance companies. If you wish, you may also order a hard copy of some to be shipped to you from our online store. Download the sample letters and forms here:

MH Letters and Forms: Use these MH Letters and Formsto aid in discussions/education about Malignant Hyperthermia with your family, healthcare professionals, schools, and insurance companies. You