Epidemiology of perioperative anaphylaxis

Hypersensitivity Reactions During Anaesthesia Care: An 11-Year Experience From A Tertiary Hospital

“…Reports in the literature of the incidence of anaphylactic reactions in the operating room are variable, but in our Centre this incidence seems to be greater than the one reported in other similar studies [1]. There might be an over-report of anaphylactic reactions, for which we point out several reasons.…”

“…Furthermore, the existing protocol for patients with known latex allergy is very well establish which helps to prevent these complications. Reactions to latex are rapidly decreasing in other studies, as a result of primary and secondary prevention policies [1].…”

“…Specific investigation should therefore be conducted 4 to 6 weeks after the reaction and relies on skin tests, serum-specific IgE, and challenge procedures [1,4].…”

“…The former result from the presence of allergen specific IgE (or IgG) antibodies. The latter may be related to other mechanisms, such as complement activation, histamine release or activation of the mast-cell specific MRGPRX2 receptor, or even unknown mechanisms [1,2]. Anaphylaxis is considered an acute type I hypersensitivity reaction resulting primarily from rapid antigen induction.…”

“…Anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia is a rare but life-threatening clinical condition involving multiple organ systems, and this terminology is usually used when the allergic reaction is associated with cardiovascular collapse or airway obstruction, with or without cutaneous manifestations [3]. Epidemiological studies report a variable incidence of one allergic reaction in 4.000 to 25.000 anesthetic procedures, with overall mortality rate ranging from 0.001% to 9% [1,[4][5][6][7][8][9].…”