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Anaphylaxis secondary to levobupivacaine
A Gupta1, M Fennelly, V Ramesh
1Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. anish147@gmail.com
Anaesthesia
|July 21, 2011
Summary
A patient experienced anaphylaxis during surgery due to levobupivacaine, a local anesthetic. This case highlights the risk of allergic reactions to surgical agents like anti-adhesion gels.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
- Local anesthetics and surgical adjuncts can rarely cause anaphylaxis.
Observation:
- A 25-year-old woman developed anaphylaxis during elective lumbar decompression and microdiscectomy.
- Clinical signs of anaphylaxis emerged towards the end of the surgical procedure.
Findings:
- Skin testing confirmed sensitization to levobupivacaine, a local anesthetic.
- Sensitization to MediShield, an anti-adhesion gel, was also suspected.
- This is the first confirmed case report of anaphylaxis to levobupivacaine.
Implications:
- Anesthetists must be vigilant for potential allergic reactions to agents used by surgeons.
- Multiple agents may contribute to triggering severe anaphylactic events.
- Awareness of drug and material allergies is crucial for patient safety in surgical settings.
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