Investigation of anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia requires an accurate record of events including information on the timing of drug administration provided by the anaesthetist, as well as timed acute tryptase measurements. This document “ BSACI guidelines for the investigation of suspected anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia ” describes the investigation of suspected anaphylaxis during anaesthesia focussing on the allergist’s role. Referrals should be made to a centre with the experience and ability to investigate reactions to a range of drug classes/substances including neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) intravenous (I.V.) anaesthetics, antibiotics, opioid analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), local anaesthetics, colloids, latex and other agents.
About a third of cases are due to an allergy to NMBAs. Therefore, the investigation should be carried out…
