Anaphylaxis during anaesthesia: Indian scenario.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Anaphylaxis during anaesthesia is a rare but serious problem. In contrast to the developed countries where databases of perianaesthetic anaphylaxis are preserved, none exist in India. We conducted a survey amongst Indian anaesthesiologists to study the incidence and aetiology of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia in India.

METHODS: A written questionnaire comprising 20 items was mailed electronically or distributed personally to 600 randomly selected Indian anaesthesiologists. The responses were compiled and analysed.

RESULTS: We received responses from 242 anaesthesiologists. One hundred and sixty-two (67%) anaesthesiologists had encountered anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Anaesthetic drugs led to 40% of reactions, and 60% of reactions were attributed to non-anaesthetic drugs. Opioids were the most common anaesthetic drugs implicated in anaphylaxis during anaesthesia, and non-depolarising muscle relaxants were the second most commonly implicated agents. Colloids, antibiotics and blood transfusion were the common non-anaesthetic agents thought to be responsible for anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia. There were five deaths due to anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Only 10% of anaesthesiologists ordered for allergy testing subsequently though 38% of anaesthesiologists had access to allergy testing facilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Our survey reveals that two-thirds of participating Indian anaesthesiologists had witnessed anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Commonly implicated anaesthetic drugs were opioids and non-depolarising muscle relaxants while colloids, antibiotics and blood transfusion were the common non-anaesthetic agents causing anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia. Further, our survey reveals low utilisation and paucity of referral allergy centres to investigate suspected cases of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia.