[Perioperative allergy. A 3-year experience].

BACKGROUND

Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a global health problem, with an estimated incidence of 1 per 100,000 procedures and a mortality rate of 0.1 to 9 %. Main risk factors are a history of allergy to other drugs, atopy, associated psychiatric disorders and previous surgeries.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency of sensitization and the type of drugs involved in perioperative allergy in a tertiary care hospital, over a 3-year period.

METHODS

Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study of perioperative allergy, corroborated by skin tests for each drug and latex, of patients treated at the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department of Hospital General de Mexico.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with perioperative allergy were included. Main triggers were neuromuscular blocking agents (46.42 %), latex (28.52 %) and propofol (14.28 %). The main risk factor was a history of previous surgeries (89.28 %). Most perioperative allergic reactions were mild (71.42 %) and occurred within the postoperative period (60.71 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial diagnosis and Treatment should always be carried out by the anesthesiologist or surgeon, who should focus on the withdrawal of possible causative agents.