The MH Let’s Save a Life Mini-Conference at Orlando Health in Orlando Florida was a big success thanks to event co-hosts Orlando Health, Florida Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, and Florida Society of Anesthesiologists.

Speakers for the event were MHAUS MH Hotline Consultants Kumar Belani, MD and Tae Kim, MD, and Lisa Groetzner who lost her 6 year-old son to MH in 2010. In addition there were impromptu comments made by Curt Keller a parent who lost his 26 year-old son to MH in 2012 and Heidy Frank a parent diagnosed with MH in Brazil now living in Miami and Heidy Frank’s Mother.

The event was attended by over 100 people who are healthcare professionals, patients and families, and students; 15 of the attendees are members of MHAUS!

People engaged in conversation with each other and with speakers before, during, and after the event. Photos were taken during the event and in front of the MHAUS logo wall and many of the photos were posted to the Florida MH Group at MHAUS.org and to the MHAUS Page on Facebook. There was also one audio interview was made with an RN who is also MHS.

Lisa Groetzner’s presentation framed the day. Attendees were captivated concentrating her spoken words. Both Doctor’s Belani and Kim referred to Lisa Groetzner’s comments throughout their presentations. Dr. Kim defined malignant hyperthermia. Reviewed pathophysiology of malignant hyperthermia, Described the clinical presentation of malignant hyperthermia. Outline the intraoperative and postoperative management of malignant hyperthermia, and review testing for MH susceptibility. He also presented a soon to be published response from The Joint Commission about points in their code that caught the attention of many of healthcare professionals in the room. Dr. Belani talked about ASCs and Office Based Anesthesia, being better prepared for MH, transfer guidelines and protocol now established, availability of Activated Charcoal filters make for more efficient preparation for elective cases. Improvements in simulation methodologies for MH education. Improved understanding between heat stroke and MH. Development of an algorithm for evaluation of rhabdomyolysis. "Awake”  (heat & exercise stress) MH multiple underlying genetic variants and predisposition to development of a (triggerable) myopathy and Evaluation of patients with unexplained rhabdomyolysis. The details about genetic test and who should be tested.

The Frank family learned about their MHS in Brazil in the 1980s and now live in Miami and drove to the conference with their five year-old to get answers. They made comments to attendees, spoke to both doctors Belani and Kim, and after the event connected with the MHAUS Patient Liaison Committee.

Nurses sitting in a group in the back of the room said they were overwhelming in a good-way that there was so much content.

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