02/04/2026
Critical Alert: ND4 Gene and General Anesthesia Risk. I’m issuing an urgent alert about a serious health concern involving the ND4 gene and general anesthesia. If you or anyone you know is of Venezuelan or Central American descent (particularly on your mother’s side), you may carry the ND4 gene, which has been linked to severe neurologic dysfunction following inhaled anesthesia. I’m warning anyone scheduled for procedures using general anesthesia to alert their physician immediately about their ancestry, as this gene could result in significant complications or mortality. I’ll be covering this story in detail tomorrow morning on with more specific information.