Perioperative Hypersensitivity Evaluation and Management: A Practical Approach

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Gerald W. Volcheck
  • Birgitte Bech Melchiors
  • Sophie Farooque
  • Alexei Gonzalez-Estrada
  • Paul Michel Mertes
  • Louise Savic
  • Charles Tacquard
  • Garvey, Lene Heise

Perioperative hypersensitivity (POH) is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening event. Identification of POH can be difficult given the lack of familiarity, physiological effects of anesthesia, draping of the patient during surgery, and potential nonimmunological factors contributing to signs and symptoms. Given the unique nature and large number of medications administered in the perioperative setting, evaluation of POH can be challenging. In this paper, we present a practical approach to management with an emphasis on understanding what happens in the operating room, the overlap of signs and symptoms between nonimmunological and immunological reactions, acute management, and subsequent evaluation. In addition, we provide a strategy for further review of an initially negative evaluation and emphasize the importance of establishing management plans for the patient as well as providing recommendations to the medical, anesthesia, and surgical teams for future surgeries. A critical factor for successful management at all points in the process is a close collaboration between the anesthesia and the allergy teams.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Volume11
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)382-392
Number of pages11
ISSN2213-2198
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

    Research areas

  • Allergy, Anesthesia, Drug provocation, Intraoperative anaphylaxis, Investigation, Perioperative anaphylaxis, Perioperative hypersensitivity, Skin testing

ID: 338354776