Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 8/19/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dr. Levy,
I know that folks can be tested for allergies to certain things (eggs, milk, wheat, molds, pollens, etc.).  I'm possibly facing a hysterectomy and would like to know if it's possible to do pre-op testing for anesthesia allergies, even though there are many different kinds of anesthesia agents?  Thank you very much!

ANSWER: There is no such thing as an anesthesia allergy. You can be allergic to some medications we give but not anesthesia per se. We don't usually test for allergies because most people don't have them. If you do, the first time you get the medicine, the reaction is usually mild so it is not a big problem. Don't worry.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dr. Levy,

Thank you so much for answering my question about anesthesia allergy.  I very much appreciate your time.  

The reason I am concerned is that in the early 1990's, I was scheduled to have a deviated septum repaired.  When they put me to sleep, my heart beat climbed to nearly 200 beats per minute.  The surgeon became very alarmed, and since it was not a life-threatening surgery, aborted the procedure.  I scheduled an appointment with the anesthesiologist a couple of days later to find out the name of the drug(s) that was(were) used, and was told that I could not have that information.  

Meanwhile, back to now.  My gyn surgeon is searching for the hospital records, as well as the records of the ENT surgeon for any information to review with the new anesthesiologist.  

Assuming the records cannot be located, do you have any advice for me?  Thank you very much.

Rebecca

Answer
My feeling is that your heart rate went up because they gave you a local anesthetic that had epinephrine in it (used to prolong the effect of the anesthetic). When they injected it into your nose, some of the epi got into your blood stream and caused your heart rate to go up (a normal effect of epi). This is not an allergy. I don't suspect that you will have a problem this time but it still would be better to see the old records.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston