title: [Allergic reactions during anesthesia].
abstract: Anaphylactic reaction during anesthesia is a constant source of concern for anesthesiologists, given that the rates of death and serious complications are high and predicting which patients will be susceptible is impossible. All substances used in the perioperative period carry a certain risk of releasing histamine and triggering an allergic reaction, though muscle relaxants are the drugs usually implicated. The incidence of serious anaphylaxis ranges between 1:4,000 and 1:23,000 anesthetic procedures, with mortality set at 3-9% and morbidity 10 times higher. Clinical signs vary from mild symptoms to anaphylactic shock and cardiac arrest. The diagnostic procedure to follow upon observing an allergic reaction is to first identify the responsible mechanism and later the responsible agent, as well as drugs that can be used safely. Prophylaxis is based mainly on recognizing predisposed patients before surgery and following recommendations and pharmacological protocols based on better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that cause anaphylactic reaction and on experience in managing them.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital de L'Esperança, Barcelona.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escolano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sierra
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D000758:Anesthesia; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003167:Complement Activation; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000777:Anesthetics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D007073:Immunoglobulin E