Contribution of allergology consultation after peroperative anesthesia accidents: assessment of the Poitiers hospital activity

OBJECTIVE: Patients who present an accident during general anesthesia must be tested 4 to 8 weeks later in order to determine the exact cause and prev ent any further acute accidents. We report the results of a prospective stu dy based on a 1-year period of allergology consultations after peroperatory accidents in the Poitiers University Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Previous history, surgical procedure, the nature and gravity, of the reaction, risk factors and tests results were recorded. All observations were transmitted to the Regional Pharmacovigilance Center. Th e level of causality of the administered drug was determined from these dat a which were integrated into the national computer bank of side effects. RESULTS: After 2,500 general anesthesia procedures, a total of 21 patients had been referred to the allergology consultation. Eighteen were positive f or at least 1 test (skin tests or laboratory tests). Among the substances a dministratered, causality was probable for 16, possible for 4 and doubtful for 1. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the importance of allergy tests and th e need for close collaboration between anesthesists, allergologists and pha rmacologists.