IVA Issues Urgent Health Alert: What People of Venezuelan Ancestry Should Know and Do Before Receiving Anesthesia
CHICAGO, IL — February 6, 2026 — The Illinois Venezuelan Alliance (IVA) is issuing an urgent medical alert to the Venezuelan community in Illinois and the medical providers who serve them. New guidance from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) has identified a rare genetic mitochondrial mutation (ND4) found in individuals of Venezuelan maternal ancestry that poses a severe risk during routine general anesthesia.
Recent clinical reports have described healthy adult and pediatric patients of Venezuelan descent experiencing "unexpected catastrophic outcomes," including severe brain damage and death, after exposure to common inhaled anesthetics (volatile gases) like sevoflurane.
IVA’s Position on Community Safety:
Our mission is to protect our people, and that includes their physical safety in the healthcare system. IVA has initiated a campaign to ensure that every Venezuelan family in Illinois is well informed before undertaking any medical procedure. IVA urges each Venezuelan to identify their ancestry before any surgery to support the medical community on their search for the proper anesthetic treatment. The Venezuelan community must follow the medical protocols related to the use of safe anesthetic alternatives set by the hospital system in Illinois.
Key Information for the Community:
Identify Your Heritage: The risk is linked to maternal (mother’s) Venezuelan lineage.
Speak Up: Before any procedure involving anesthesia, tell your doctor: "I am of Venezuelan ancestry, and I am aware of the ND4 mutation and anesthesia risk."
Surgery is Still Safe: Doctors can use alternative sedative techniques that are considered safe for those with this mutation.
Call to Action for Chicago Medical Providers:
IVA supports all Illinois hospitals and clinics that already implement immediate screening protocols for patients of Venezuelan descent. We urge anesthesiologists to follow the latest ASA/SPA guidance (Jan 27, 2026) to prevent severe risk during routine general anesthesia for individuals of Venezuelan maternal ancestry.
About IVA: The Illinois Venezuelan Alliance is a community-led organization dedicated to the protection and empowerment of the Venezuelan diaspora.
Media Contact: Luciano Pedota. President of the Board, IVA (847) 638-4059 luciano.pedota@gmail.com
