Abdominal anaphylaxis presenting as trauma: a recipe for delayed diagnosis

Successful shock management requires prompt identification, classification, and treatment; however, the triage of patients with non-hemorrhagic shock to the trauma room can lead to delayed diagnosis with increased morbidity and mortality.

Our goal is to emphasize the importance of shock identification and classification to facilitate the delivery of the appropriate and timely therapy, no matter how the patient is triaged.

We describe a patient triaged as a trauma patient with suspected hemorrhagic shock yet who was found to have anaphylaxis as the etiology of his condition. Abdominal anaphylaxis, a less recognized presentation of anaphylaxis, is reviewed and discussed.

We hope to increase awareness of a less common presentation of anaphylaxis and discuss its management.