Latex allergy: diagnostic pitfalls

A 44-year-old woman, native of Martinique, with a history of multiple allergies and severe asthma, sustained an unexplained cardiovascular collapse during surgery under general anaesthesia. The patient recovered normally. Postoperatively, neither additional explorations were undertaken nor informations given to the patient. Later on she had to undergo cholecystectomy. Data obtained from preanaesthetic assessment (history, analysis of medical files) were in favour of a past intraoperative allergic accident. Allergological tests confirmed a latex allergy. This case substantiates the importance of a careful preanaesthetic consideration of patient's history and the value of a systematic allergologic exploration after an unexplained intraoperative event compatible with an: anaphylactoid reaction. All such events should be clearly explained and a written document handed to the patient. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.