Acute Management, Diagnosis, and Follow-Up of Suspected Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions in Flanders 2001-2018

Abstract

Despite numerous efforts to describe the clinical manifestations and the epidemiology of perioperative hypersensitivity (POH), there remains room to increase awareness among anesthetists and immunologists/allergists. To report the findings of a 17-year survey of suspected POH in Antwerp, Belgium. We analyzed clinical and diagnostic data from 715 patients referred because of a suspected POH reaction, between January 1, 2001, and May 31, 2018. A total of 456 patients demonstrating a POH could be queried about subsequent anesthesia. A total of 608 cases formed the final dataset; 208 had a non-life-threatening reaction and 400 a life-threatening reaction. In life-threatening reactions, hypotension was predominating. In the non-life-threatening reactions, 83.9% of the patients displayed cutaneous manifestations. In life-threatening reactions, intravenous adrenaline and fluids were administered in 75.7% and 31%, respectively, and 41.3% had their intervention abandoned. Mast cell activation (MCA) was mainly, but not exclusively, observed in severe grades but did not predict the mechanistic process nor the culprit. A cause was identified in 77.8% of severe and 48.6% of milder cases. Main culprits were neuromuscular blocking agents, latex, cefazolin, and dyes. A total of 156 cases had uneventful anesthesia, except 1 patient who was inadvertently re-exposed to hidden chlorhexidine. This study highlights that there is room for an improved acute management and an optimized diagnostic workup that should not be restricted to patients with severe reactions and/or showing MCA.