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Prolonged cardiovascular collapse due to unrecognized latex anaphylaxis
James R Hebl1, Brian A Hall, Juraj Sprung
1Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Anesthesia and Analgesia
|March 26, 2004
Summary
A prolonged anaphylactic reaction initially suspected to be cefazolin was found to be latex allergy. This case highlights the importance of considering latex allergy in perioperative cardiovascular collapse, even when antibiotics are administered.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Intraoperative anaphylaxis can present with cardiovascular collapse.
- Antibiotic administration is a common trigger for perioperative hypersensitivity reactions.
Observation:
- A patient experienced a prolonged anaphylactic reaction temporally related to cefazolin administration.
- Unexpectedly, allergy testing revealed latex sensitivity and no cefazolin allergy.
Findings:
- The causative allergen for the anaphylactic reaction was identified as latex, not cefazolin.
- Initial assumptions about the allergen based on medication timing were incorrect.
Implications:
- Medications administered before anaphylaxis onset should not be presumed as the sole causative agent.
- Latex allergy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of perioperative cardiovascular collapse.
- Patients with intraoperative cardiovascular collapse should be managed in a latex-free environment due to diagnostic uncertainty.