A 10-year-old girl with spina bifida underwent surgery to increase the capacity of her neurogenic bladder using an isolated loop of intestine. During the operation serious circulatory and respiratory problems occurred after the peritoneum was opened, when the ileum was manipulated using gloves containing latex. Latex allergy can lead to potentially fatal anaphylactic reactions. A survey is presented of the risk groups, together with measures recently advocated in the literature to detect latex allergy and to avoid major reactions.