title: Allergic reaction to ortho-phthalaldehyde following flexible laryngoscopy.
abstract: Flexible laryngoscopes are common outpatient surveillance tools. Cleansing of these scopes between patients must be quick, effective, and safe. One sterilant that largely meets these criteria is ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA); however, infrequently, patients may develop allergic reactions to it. We present three cases of patients who developed significant allergic reactions following repeated laryngoscopic examinations. Subsequent intradermal allergy testing confirmed sensitivity to OPA. In addition, we reviewed the current literature, which includes 17 similar reactions reported in nine patients across disciplines. Allergic reaction to OPA is uncommon, but a potentially under-reported severe complication of repeated endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atiyeh
authors.affiliation: ENT and Allergy Associates, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chitkara
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Stratos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achlatis
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Branski
authors.affiliation: NYU Voice Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Milan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Amin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde
keywords: Laryngoscopy; allergy; ortho-phthalaldehyde; voice