Eyelid anaphylactic reaction to atracurium with general anesthesia

Atracurium is a relatively new neuromuscular blocking anesthetic with known histamine release effects which has become popular in ophthalmic anesthesia. This report describes the IV use of Atracurium causing an anaphylactic reaction manifested by localized edema of all four eyelids, conjunctival chemosis and mild laryngeal edema requiring scheduled ptosis and strabismus surgery to be cancelled.