[Intraoperative bronchospasm during paranasal sinus surgery -- indicator of aspirin intolerance syndrome?].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an intraoperative bronchospasm is more frequent in sinus surgery than in non-sinus surgery, whether its appearance after application of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is an indicator of an aspirin intolerance syndrome, and whether its appearance can be interpreted as an aspirin provocation test.

METHODS

Anaesthesia charts from 5 years were retrospectively analysed whether anaphylactic/allergic reactions or bronchospasm were observed intraoperatively. In these cases the ENT charts of the patients were analysed and the occurrence of an analgesic-induced bronchospasm was assumed according to a probability algorithm.

PATIENTS: All operations in general anaesthesia of an otorhinolaryngology clinic were analysed.

RESULTS

An intraoperative bronchospasm was observed significantly more often in patients undergoing sinus surgery than during other ENT operations. In 17 of 23 patients a possible/probable analgesic-induced bronchospasm after application of NSAID was found. Diclofenac was intraoperatively given in 3 patients, diclofenac and metamizole in 5 patients, metamizole in 7 patients, paracetamol in 1 patient, and paracetamol and metamizole in 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONS

An intraoperative bronchospasm during sinus surgery is not a clear indicator of an aspirin intolerance syndrome. An analgesic-induced bronchospasm can also be observed after paracetamol and metamizole. It can not be interpreted analogous to an aspirin provocation test.