[Allergy to ketamine]

A case is reported of allergy to ketamine substantiated 2 years after the accident. The female patient had ketamine for the removal of a mole. During this procedure, she developed a generalized rash and laryngospasm; the use of adrenaline was required. Since that time, although no confirmatory investigations had been carried out, she had been given a paper identifying Ketalar as being the involved drug. Investigations were carried out after she had been given a further anaesthetic (without using ketamine) 2 years after the accident. These confirmed an allergic reaction to ketamine, and not to the solvent, chlorobutanol.