Are urologists prepared for latex-allergic patients?

Objective To determine how prepared operating departments are to manage lat ex-allergic patients, and particularly urologists, because the highest inci dence of latex allergy occurs in patients with spina bifida who undergo fre quent urological procedures. Methods A standard questionnaire about the provision of latex-free equipmen t within operating theatres was completed by the 72 hospitals surveyed (33 district general, 27 teaching, six children's and six private hospitals), Results Anaesthetic latex-free equipment was available in five of the child ren's hospitals, 56% of the teaching hospitals, 45% of the district general hospitals and two of the private hospitals. A latex-free catheter only was provided in two of the children's hospitals, 30% of the teaching hospitals and 12% of the district general hospitals. In addition, one of the childre n's hospitals and one of the private hospitals had a comprehensive range of urological latex-free equipment available. Conclusion This survey shows that many hospitals are inadequately prepared to manage latex-allergic patients, because they lack anaesthetic and urolog ical latex-free equipment.