Anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia: neuromuscular blocking agents, latex and antibiotics.

A French team investigated hypersensitivity reactions that occurred during locoregional or general anaesthesia over an 8-year period. They estimated that the incidence of anaphylactic reactions was about 1 per 10 000 anaesthetic procedures. Among the 1816 reports of anaphylactic reactions, the most commonly implicated drugs were neuromuscular blocking agents (1067 cases), latex (361 cases), and antibiotics (236 cases). Some anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents occurred in patients who had never previously been anaesthetised, suggesting cross-reactivity with other, poorly known, substances. Most reactions in children were due to latex, followed by neuromuscular blocking agents and antibiotics. In practice, exposure to latex devices should be minimised, or simply avoided when possible. A history of sensitization to substances sharing allergenic sites with neuromuscular blocking agents should be investigated, and measures should be taken to protect patients.