[A Case of Rocuronium-induced Anaphylaxis in a Man with Kounis Syndrome in which Basophil Activation Test was...

We experienced rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis in a 62-year-old man who was scheduled for laparoscopic ileocecal excision for cecal cancer under general anes- thesia. The patient did not have a preoperative history and examinations suggestive of heart disease, or pre- disposing factors for myocardial infarction. Just after induction of anesthesia, we noticed abnormally low blood pressure and ST segment elevation on his elec- trocardiogram. The surgery was postponed and percu- taneous coronary intervention was performed to treat coronary artery stenosis. Re-operation was planned 73-days after the first operation. The patient suffered cardiac arrest just after induction of general anesthesia At the same time, we noticed systemic erythema all over his body, which led to the diagnosis of anaphy- laxis. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed and the surgery was postponed once again. Cardiovas- cular agents, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, atro- pine and amiodarone, improved his hemodynamics. In addition, steroids and anti-histamines were also admin- istered to treat anaphylaxis. We advised him to undergo skin tests to determine the causative agent of anaphylaxis, but he declined. Instead, a basophil activa- tion test was performed, which showed a positive reac- tion to rocuronium. Therefore, we planned general anesthesia without using muscle relaxants such as rocuronium for the third attempt at surgery. The sur- gery was performed safely with this protocol. It is likely that his symptoms in the first general anesthesia were caused by Kounis syndrome. We conclude that the basophil activation test seems to be valuable in determining the causative agent of anaphylaxis, partic- ularly when a patient does not agree to undergo skin tests.