Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/13/2007

Question
My daughter has to have surgery soon and my husband has a family history of MH (his brother), how concerned should I be about her being put to sleep again, this is the third time. Althought the procedures are minor (tubes in her ear)they have to put her to sleep with a IV instead of gas. Do you have any info on this? Is it dangerous to be put to sleep this way several times she is only 2yrs.?

Answer
You didn't mention if her previous surgeries were all total intravenous aneshtetics or gas anesthetics. If it was the former, then I would still be concerned and you might want to get her tested for MH. If she has had gas anesthetics before, then the likelihood is less. MH is hereditary but not everyone gets it. As anesthesiologists, we don't want to take chances so we will likewly shy away from any triggering agents until we know for sure.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston