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[Latex allergy in pediatric age: an interdisciplinary perioperative management and case reports]
A Gentili1, G Ricci, F Di Lorenzo
1U. O. Anestesia e Rianimazione, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Universitá degli Studi, Bologna, Italy.
Insights
An interdisciplinary approach effectively manages latex intraoperative allergy in high-risk pediatric patients. This latex-safe perioperative strategy proved safe, easy to apply, and prevented allergic reactions.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Latex intraoperative allergy is increasingly prevalent, particularly in pediatric patients with specific risk factors like spina bifida or congenital genitourinary abnormalities.
- Managing latex allergy necessitates close collaboration among multiple specialists to ensure patient safety.
- Atopic individuals and those with multiple surgical histories are also at higher risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an interdisciplinary perioperative management protocol for patients with potential or confirmed latex allergy.
- To identify high-risk patients and implement latex-safe procedures.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of this management strategy in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Patient identification through detailed history and targeted questionnaires to identify risk profiles.
- Implementation of a strictly latex-safe perioperative environment, including latex-free materials and equipment.
- Conducting 18 latex-safe perioperative proceedings for 8 pediatric patients with conditions such as esophageal atresia, bladder exstrophy, and cloacal exstrophy between November 1997 and December 1999.
Main Results:
- No latex-induced allergic reactions or procedure-related complications were observed.
- Surgical and anesthesiological durations were comparable to standard procedures.
- Healthcare providers reported satisfaction with the latex-free materials and equipment used.
Conclusions:
- The developed interdisciplinary perioperative management is a valid, safe, and practical approach for patients with latex allergy.
- This strategy effectively mitigates risks associated with latex exposure in surgical settings.
- The protocol facilitates a collaborative and secure perioperative experience for at-risk pediatric patients.
Background:
Latex intraoperative allergy is more and more frequent, especially in at groups risk (patients with spina bifida or congenital genitourinary abnormalities, pluri-operated patients, atopic subjects) and in pediatric age. The main problem of this allergy consists in the necessity of a strict collaboration of many specialists, in order to identify and safeguard the patient.
Methods:
Our experience has pointed out an interdisciplinary perioperative management able to: 1. identify patients affected by latex allergy; 2. submit them to a latex-safe perioperative proceeding; 3. check their conditions with periodical tests. Selecting patients through a history and a list of questions, identifying profiles of typical risk patients, organizing the operating room with latex-free materials and equipment were the most important issues. Since November 1997 to December 1999 eighteen latex-safe perioperative proceedings have been carried out on 8 subjects (2 with esophageal atresia, 4 with bladder exstrophy and 2 with cloacal exstrophy); 2 of them were emergency cases.
Results:
No allergic reactions and no proceeding-linked complications have been registered. Operators have always been satisfied by materials and equipment. Anesthesiological and surgical times resulted equal to those without latex-safe management.
Conclusions:
This perioperative management of potential or verified latex allergic patients turned out to be valid, safe and easy in practical application.