Latex allergy is an
IgE-mediated reaction to natural
latex antigen. Operating room equipment frequently includes medical devices, such as
surgical gloves, intravenous lines, and
urinary catheters, which are made from
latex or contain
latex. These products can trigger an
allergic reaction that can result in
anaphylactic shock. Removal of
natural rubber and
latex-containing products from the operating room and avoidance of external and internal exposure of patients to
latex antigen will prevent such
allergic reactions. Updated guidelines for the safe management of
latex allergy were published in 2009 by the Japanese Society of
Latex Allergy. The previous guidelines regarding this topic were published in 2006. The new guidelines consist of 11 chapters that deal with background, exposure to
latex antigen and development of sensitization, high-risk groups,
natural rubber products,
allergic reactions triggered by
natural rubber products, diagnosis,
latex-fruit syndrome, countermeasures and treatments in emergencies, prevention and safe management in the hospital, countermeasures in daily life, and limits for application of the guidelines. We had a case that required management according to the 2009 guidelines. A 49-year-old male doctor with a history of
allergy to
latex gloves was scheduled for
laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general and
epidural anesthesia for recurrent,
acute cholecystitis. The
anesthesia and operation were performed uneventfully with
latex-free medical devices and machines in a
latex-safe environment in the operating room under the new guidelines. Safe
anesthetic management under the 2009 guidelines should be available for all operations in Japan on patients with
latex allergy.