Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 4/14/2009

Question
I received a general anesthetic during knee arthriscopy last week and apparently had an allergic reaction when it was administered.  I developed a rash on my chest which spread to my abdomen, and also increased heart rate and blood pressure.  They also put in a breathing tube.  I know there are different types of anesthetic, but is there a way to test for which ones I may be allergic to so that I could put it on a medic alert bracelet?

Answer
First of all, they may have intubated you because that was the original plan. As for the allergy, there are several medications that cause a rash, but this is a histamine reaction and not an allergy. If it was a true allergy, you would need to talk to the anesthesiologist who took care of you and find out what meds you received prior to the reaction. An allergist can test you for these potential allergens. This is better than using a sledgehammer approach and just saying you are allergic to all the meds you were give. I would suggest talking with the anesthesiologist as a first step.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
uTMB-Galveston