Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
10:49

Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: September 18, 2011

Latex anaphylaxis during spinal surgery in children with myelomeningocele

J V Banta1, C Bonanni, J Prebluda

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Newington Children's Hospital, CT 06111.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|June 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Intra-operative anaphylaxis to latex can be fatal in children with spina bifida. Clinicians should be vigilant for latex allergy in these patients, especially during surgery involving large exposed surfaces.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Allergology
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Latex allergy poses a significant risk during surgical procedures, potentially leading to life-threatening intra-operative anaphylaxis.
  • Children with spina bifida have a high prevalence of latex allergy, estimated between 18% and 40%.

Observation:

  • Current diagnostic tests for latex allergy lack the necessary sensitivity and specificity for routine screening.
  • Four cases highlight severe anaphylactic reactions in children with myelomeningocele undergoing procedures with extensive mucosal or serosal exposure.

Findings:

  • A history of allergy in children with myelomeningocele necessitates heightened clinical awareness for potential severe anaphylaxis.
  • Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial for managing intra-operative anaphylaxis.

Implications:

  • Clinicians must consider latex allergy in pediatric patients with spina bifida, particularly when anticipating significant surgical exposure.
  • Epinephrine is the recommended treatment for Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions during surgery.
  • Further research into sensitive and specific screening methods for latex allergy in this population is warranted.

More Related Videos

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model13:31

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model

Published on: March 27, 2016

Spinal Hernia Repair and Cauda Equina Repositioning After Lumbar Decompression under Three-Dimensional Microscopy: A Case Report and Literature Review04:33

Spinal Hernia Repair and Cauda Equina Repositioning After Lumbar Decompression under Three-Dimensional Microscopy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Published on: November 8, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...