Prevention of Anaphylactic Reactions to Anaesthetic Drugs

Although screening tests to prevent anaphylaxis during anaesthesia have been advocated, such tests are unlikely to have significant impact on reducing the incidence of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. This is due to the low prevalence of the disease, the diversity of drugs used in anaesthesia and the incidence of false positive and negative tests. The suggested risk factors of allergy, i.e. atopy, asthma, family history, female sex, previous exposure, vasectomy, use of zinc protamine sulfate insulin and allergy to cosmetics, eggs, fish and non-anaesthetic drugs are not valid. Although all have theoretical or real associations with anaphylaxis during anaesthesia the majority of patients with such a history undergo uneventful anaesthesia. Fruit allergy, anaphylaxis to cephalosporins and penicillin, barbiturate allergy, gelatin allergy and allergy to metabisulphite and eggs require consideration in avoiding particular drugs.