Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

Allergies and adverse drug reactionsThacker is the lead clinician for latex allergy and anaesthesia, and hehas drawn up guidelines listing equipment that is safe to use. Thisequipment is available in theatre suites.You should seek senior advice on any patient with a history of latexallergy who is drawn to your attention (see page 43) and proceedwith extreme caution. Notify the relevant nurse in charge who shouldbe able to provide a copy of the anaesthesia guidelines. Thesecopies are held in the departmental information file and in eachtheatre suite.Suxamethonium problems in the family history[Authors: Dr S. Radhakrishna and Dr L. Leong, March 2004. Appraised by DrS. Radhakrishna, February 2007]Key points to look for in the history:• Cardiac arrest after suxamethonium – anaphylaxis.• Stopped breathing for a longer time than usual –suxamethonium apnoea.• Unexpected ICU stay.• Family history of abnormal reactions to volatile agents –malignant hyperpyrexia.There could be three major reactions:• Suxamethonium apnoea.• Anaphylaxis to suxamethonium.• Malignant hyperpyrexia.Malignant hyperpyrexia and suxamethonium apnoea are geneticallytransmitted and patients and their families need to be investigated toestablish their susceptibility to suxamethonium.Anaesthetists Handbook January 2010 145