Anaphylaxis during anesthesia - role of skin prick testing in diagnosing multiple sensitivities

The true incidence of anaphylactic reactions and their associated morbidity and mortality remain poorly defined. This is due to uncertainties in reporting accuracy and exhaustivity. A 23 years old male developed severe anaphylaxis under general anesthesia with cardiovascular collapse, bronchospasm and angio-edema. He was promptly managed with intravenous Adrenaline, Hydrocortisone, colloid solutions and Promethazine. The temporal relation suggested Atracurium to be the cause. However, skin prick test, performed 8 weeks later, showed a very strong (+++) positive test for Atracurium and mild sensitivity (+) with Suxamethonium. No sensitivity to Nalbuphine, Thiopentone or Pancuronium was noted. The relevant information was endorsed in patient's medical record sheet for his future exposure.