PERIOPERATIVE TREATMENT OF LATEX-ALLERGIC CHILDREN

OBJECTIVE: Latex allergy has become an increasing and clinically important problem. Several recommendations for primary and secondary preventive measures have been advised. The aims of the study were to illustrate the results of the latex-safe protocol and to evaluate in allergic patients the role of risk factors for the development of latex allergy. METHODS: The latex-safe treatment was divided into the following phases: anamnestic identification, allergologic assessment, patient selection, intervention program, preventive medication, operating room equipment, postoperative management, patient and family training, and follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty perioperative latex-safe managements have been accomplished: 16 primary prevention in 7 newborn and 44 secondary prevention in 26 children. No allergic event or complications linked to the procedure occurred. In the patients undergoing secondary prevention atopy, surgical congenital malformations frequently associated with latex allergy and the presence of 5 or more surgical procedures were the major risk factors recognized. Six (23%) of the 26 patients had only 1 risk factor (atopy). Twenty (77%) of 26 children had several associated risk factors: 8 of them had simultaneously 9 of the 10 analyzed risk factors. Our data show that the higher their number, the higher the gravity of the allergy. CONCLUSIONS: Although latex allergy is a limited phenomenon, it is nevertheless quite frequent within risk groups. Most patients have simultaneously many risk factors for the development of such an allergy, and the occurrence of several risk factors increases severity of the allergy. Latex-safe perioperative management offers guarantees of safety against latex-allergy phenomena.