Anaphylaxis to muscle relaxants: an audit of ten years of allergy testing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital

Anaesth Intensive Care. 2012 Sep;40(5):861-6. doi: 10.1177/0310057X1204000515.

Abstract

We audited patients with anaphylaxis to muscle relaxants during anaesthesia referred to the Department of Anaesthesia at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between the start of 2000 and the end of 2009. Of the 220 patients tested during this period, 43 had a positive intradermal test to the muscle relaxant given during their anaesthetic. The majority of these were to rocuronium and suxamethonium. Where rocuronium was the index agent, 65% of patients cross-reacted with another relaxant and 29% of patients with suxamethonium as their index agent demonstrated cross-reaction with another relaxant.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anaphylaxis / chemically induced*
  • Androstanols / adverse effects*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intradermal Tests
  • Male
  • Medical Audit*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / adverse effects*
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / adverse effects*
  • Rocuronium
  • Succinylcholine / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Androstanols
  • Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
  • Succinylcholine
  • Rocuronium