Latex anaphylaxis during tissue expander insertion in a healthy child.

PURPOSE

To report intraoperative latex anaphylaxis that occurred in an otherwise healthy child. Although latex anaphylaxis is seen in patients with myelodysplasia, genitourinary anomalies, sensitised healthcare workers, and patients with frequent exposure to latex, it has not been described in otherwise healthy children.

CLINICAL FEATURES

A nine-year-old girl developed intraoperative latex anaphylaxis manifested by increased airway pressure, expiratory wheezing, a decrease in oxygen saturation, severe hypotension and urticaria. The patient was treated with 5 micrograms.kg-1 epinephrine i.v. and 5 mg.kg-1 hydrocortisone i.v. She required an epinephrine infusion of 0.4 microgram.kg-1.min-1 and prolonged ICU admission. Her only previous latex exposure was during plastic surgical procedures. Latex allergy was confirmed weeks later using the prick method allergy testing.

CONCLUSION

Latex anaphylaxis can occur in otherwise healthy children whose only latex exposure occurred during a previous operation, including plastic surgery.