[A case of emergency caesarean section as a result of anaphylaxis to latex]

A 32-year-old woman was admitted with a diagnosis of impending premature delivery. In the 37th week of pregnancy, vaginal examination was performed. After ten minutes, vomiting, whole body flushing, and cold sweat appeared suddenly. Because fetal heart rate became 60-70 beats.min-1, emergency caesarean section was scheduled. When she arrived at the operating room, blood pressure was 75/45 and heart rate was 122 beats.min-1. Five minutes later, anesthesia was induced with thiopental and vecuronium, and operation was instituted concomitantly. After the delivery, pentazocine and midazolam were administered. During the operation, premature separation of normally implanted placenta or pressed cord was not observed. Hydrocortisone was administered for circulatory collapse. Gabexate mesilate was administered for the prevention of DIC. The scratch test, performed ten days later, revealed that latex was positive but lidocaine was negative. Therefore, it was concluded that anaphylaxis induced by latex gloves caused shock after internal examination.