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Anaphylaxis to ethylene oxide – a rare and overlooked phenomenon?
Author(s) -
BACHE S.,
PETERSEN J. T.,
GARVEY L. H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2011.02504.x
Subject(s) - spina bifida , medicine , anaphylaxis , latex allergy , incidence (geometry) , anaphylactic reactions , allergy , population , allergic reaction , ethylene oxide , anesthesia , pediatrics , immunology , environmental health , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , copolymer , optics , polymer
Spina bifida patients have been reported to be at increased risk of anaphylactic reactions during general anaesthesia. Following a reaction, latex is often incriminated as spina bifida patients are known to have an increased incidence of latex allergy. Ethylene oxide ( EO ) has recently been suggested to be an alternative cause, but in many cases reported in the literature, it seems that EO has not been considered as a cause. EO is a highly reactive gas widely used to sterilise heat‐sensitive medical devices, and traces of EO can be found in many of the same products as latex. We present the case of a spina bifida patient with a known latex allergy, where EO was found to be the cause of an anaphylactic reaction during general anaesthesia. In addition, we describe measures taken during preparation of a subsequent general anaesthesia to minimise exposure to EO . Spina bifida patients seem to be at increased risk of sensitisation against EO due to repeated exposure, but only limited literature is available. To ensure that EO is considered as a cause in these cases, we recommend that testing for latex and EO go hand in hand following an anaphylactic reaction in this high‐risk population.