What causes malignant hyperthermia?
WHAT IS MH?
The sudden unexpected death of a healthy individual undergoing minor surgery is a tragedy almost beyond comprehension in this day of modern medical miracles. Yet this still happens to patients susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MH). Even when treated properly, the syndrome known as the MH crisis can cause death. In rare cases, survivors might be left with brain damage, failed kidneys, muscle damage or impaired function of other major organs.
Another cause of unexpected death during or shortly after anesthesia is a sudden cardiac arrest in a young male patient with muscular dystrophy. In some cases the patient may not be old enough to show the characteristic signs of muscle weakness. The anesthesia care team may therefore not realize that the patient may develop a marked increase in potassium in the blood sufficient to stop the heart when anesthetized. This phenomenon occurs with the use of drugs that "trigger MH," but the syndrome is distinct and different from MH. Another sign of this reaction is severe muscle breakdown manifested by brown urine and kidney failure. (See below: Are There Links Between MH and Other Diseases?)
WHAT IS MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA?
The MH crisis is a biochemical chain reaction response "triggered" by commonly used general anesthetics and the paralyzing agent succinylcholine within the skeletal muscles of susceptible individuals. The general signs of the MH crisis include tachycardia (a rise in heart rate), a greatly increased body metabolism, muscle rigidity and/or fever that may exceed 110 degrees F. Severe complications include: cardiac arrest, brain damage, internal bleeding or failure of other body systems. Thus, death, primarily due to a secondary cardiovascular collapse, can result.
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MH?
There has been dramatic improvement in our understanding of what causes MH and who is at risk. Over 80 genetic defects have been associated with MH. MH susceptibility is inherited with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that children and siblings of a patient with MH susceptibility usually have a 50% chance of inheriting a gene defect for MH and hence would also be MH susceptible. They, therefore, may develop an MH reaction upon exposure to triggers.
Nevertheless, those who are carriers for susceptibility may be completely unaware of this risk unless they or a family member developed a life-threatening crisis during anesthesia. It is important to know that not everyone who has a gene defect linked to MH develops the MH crisis upon each exposure to the triggering anesthetics. (See the section below on Testing for MH susceptibility.)
WHAT DRUGS TRIGGER MH?
The volatile gaseous inhalation anesthetics are MH triggers:
sevoflurane
desflurane
isoflurane
halothane
enflurane
methoxyflurane
Also, succinylcholine (Anectine), the depolarizing muscle relaxant
ARE OTHER ANESTHETICS SAFE?
Yes, all other anesthetic drugs are safe. Some examples of safe anesthetics are:
local anesthetics
nitrous oxide
barbiturates
narcotics
propofol
benzodiazepines
ketamine
etomidate
The non-depolarizing muscle relaxants (used to temporarily produce muscle paralysis) are also safe:
pancuronium
cisatracurium
atracurium
mivacurium
vecuronium
rocuronium
WHAT IS THE INCIDENCE OF MH?
The exact incidence of MH is unknown. The rate of occurrence has been estimated to be as frequent as one in 5,000 or as rare as one in 65,000 administrations of general anesthesia with triggering agents. The incidence varies depending on the concentration of MH families in a given geographic area. High incidence areas in the United States include Wisconsin, Nebraska, West Virginia and Michigan.
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What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Frequency - urinating much more often than normal.
Urgency - having a sensation that you need to urinate immediately.
Nocturia - getting up to urinate multiple times during the night.
Hesitancy - difficulty starting the urine stream
Blood in the urine.
Blood in the semen.
New-onset erectile dysfunction (impotence).
Bone pain (especially in the lower back, hips, or ribs).
Loss of bladder control.
NO ! There just a enjoying snack that a lot of people love ! Don't let people try to scare you .
What are two ways the risk of some types of cancers can be reduced?
One way is that they maybe able to "turn off" cancer before it causes to much damage to the body. Another way to reduce some types of cancer is to use drugs that block the flow of blood to tumors. Without a blood supply, tumors might not be able to continue growing.
What are the treatment options for a dog with lymphosarcoma?
Chemotherapy is most common and the most effective,also get a Immune booster.Dog foods high in carbohydrates "feed" the cancer dog food high in protein "starve" the cancer,while providing good support for your dogs healthy systems. Have surgery only if tumor is extremely large or endangering vital organs.This is 50% curable
Where is the headquarters of Breast Cancer Research UK located?
The main headquarters is located at the address below. 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 300 Frisco, TX 75034 However there are also many smaller organizations depending on your geographical location, check with your local listings to find the locations of those organization as well as where their main headquarters might be.
Do cancer cells show density dependent inhibition?
No, Cancer cells do not realize that they are becoming invasive and therefore keep dividing and eventually metastasize.
What is the difference between benign brain tumors and malignant brain tumors?
Firstly whether it is benign or malignant basically a brain tumour (UK English) or tumor (US English) means an abnormal growth in or on the brain of a person, including all tumours inside the skull or in the central spinal canal. Brain tumours are classed as either primaryor secondary. Either may be benign or malignant. Both benign and malignant brain tumour are created by an abnormal and uncontrolled cell division usually in the brain itself. So looking at the differences:-
1. BENIGN BRAIN TUMOURS are noncancerous being generally low-grade brain tumours that are slow growing and unlikely to spread. They tend to stay in one place and not invade other areas of our brain or spread to other parts of our body. Sometimes, they can be surgically removed and will not come back, causing no further problems. But some grade 2 tumours may grow back. While some brain tumours do not cause any symptoms and are sometimes only discovered by chance most brain tumours cause headaches and seizures.
2. MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOURS are cancerous and may be either primary or secondary. Most common malignant brain tumours are spread to the brain from tumours outside the brain known as secondary tumours. Primary malignant tumours, or high-grade brain tumours (grade 3 or 4) which start in the brain, are generally fast-growing. These must be treated as soon as possible to prevent them spreading to, and damaging, other parts of your brain and spinal cord. When possible malignant tumours are removed by surgery after opening the skull, but many malignant growths are inaccessible or too extensive for removal
But although brain tumours are not always malignant they are all still serious, principally because of the build up of pressure in the brain and the compression of adjoining brain areas that happen as the tumour expands. Whether it is a maligant or a benign brain tumour, the pressure of the expanding tumour can increase pressure within the skull thereby causing very nasty headaches, vomiting, visual disturbances as well as impairment of mental functioning.
Most brain tumours whether benign or malignant are thought to develop from unusual and random changes in somebody's brain cells, but what causes this to happen is not known. Known factors that have been discovered to increase your risk of developing a brain tumour, include age (the older you are, the more likely you are to get a brain tumour), having an inherited disease such as neurofibromatosis, being exposed to high doses of radiation or having a weakened immune system such as through medication or having HIV/AIDS.
Is testicular cancer treatable?
If it is detected and treated early enough it can be cured, if left untreated it can be fatal.
An inadequate diet is one which does not supply all a person's nutritional requirements - it may be too low or too high on calories, protein, carbohydrates or some other factor of our daily needs.
Can Inflammation in the cervix cause cancer?
Cervical cancer is caused by infection with human papillomavirus. Inflammation in the cervix alone will not cause cancer. Talk to your health care provider for information about your pap or biopsy results, and what they mean in the context of your cervical cancer screening history.
Is endometrial cancer hereditary?
Well - my mother told me that my maternal grandmother had endometrial cancer. My mother had a total hysterectomy at the age of 53 (she was told that the histology report showed the uterus had "evidence of cell change") although the surgery was actually the result of a positive cervical smear. I had post-menopausal bleeding at the end of May 2009 (aged 58) and a total hysterectomy in June. Although the surgeon was confident that I would be a Stage I, the pelvic washings showed positive cytology and I was staged Grade I adenocarcinoma, FIGO Stage IIIA. I am currently almost half-way through 5 weeks of external beam pelvic radiotherapy and the sixth week will be 2 vaginal brachytherapy treatments. I told the oncologist that my 25-year-old daughter has endometriosis and his response was that she should be extremely vigilant, given her endo plus family history. To me, indicates that those who know what they are talking about think there is an element of hereditary pre-disposition where endometrial cancer is concerned.
What are the most common breast cancer symptoms?
It is important for women to get regular breast exams with their family doctor. Common symptoms of breast cancer are change in how the breast looks or feels, how the nipple looks or feels, or nipple discharge.
No. Though there are rumors that have been circulating for a few years now that Aspartame causes cancer, there is no evidence that it does. In fact, the ACA, American Cancer Association, conducted animal tests (animal tests, very controversial, but it's better than testing on humans) that showed no increased risk for cancer with HIGH doses of Aspartame. Now, obviously results could be different between animals and humans, but nothing substantial.
Term for breast cancer that has disappeared?
Breast cancer is removed by radiation chemo & surgery. It does not go away unless one of these treatments have been done. Then you may call it remission.
There also may be a chance that breast cancer may return.
Breast Cancer Survivor
Which form of a biopsy removes a piece but not all of a tumor or a lesion?
The kind where they eat tacos and laugh at you for having a tumor.
There are two tests. One, the doctor uses his finger to determine the size of your prostate. If it's enlarged he/she will be able to provide the appropriate treatment but it may just be normal enlarging due to age. Even though it may be normal enlargment and not cancer, it should be treated. The other test is a simple blood test in which the lab looks at the level of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in the blood. If the PSA level goes up it's a very strong indication of prostate cancer. Ahem...Go to the Dr.!
Can you still get lung cancer from an electronic cigarette?
Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are designed to look like cigarettes, right down to the glowing tip. When the smoker puffs on it, the system delivers a mist of liquid, flavorings, and nicotine that looks something like smoke. The smoker inhales it like cigarette smoke, and the nicotine is absorbed into the lungs. The e-cigarette is usually sold as a way for a smoker to get nicotine in places where smoking is not allowed. Some people think they can be used to help people give up tobacco.
There are far too many manufacturers of e-cigarette fluids to give a comprehensive answer, and nowhere near enough research has been done to determine whether vape fluids are cancer causing. The safe bet is that they are at some level.