Anaphylaxis resident survival guide

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Vidit Bhargava, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

An acute, severe, potentially life threatening type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, following repeated exposure to an allergen to which an individual is already sensitized.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Any of the factors precipitating anaphylaxis can be life threatening. The list of substances that cause anaphylaxis is non-exhaustive and it is beyond our scope to mention all. Use caution:

  • Food: Peanuts, Tree nuts, walnuts, pecans, milk, soyabean, wheat, eggs, pistachios, filberts, cashews, almonds, etc.
  • Shellfish: crab, crayfish, prawns, shrimp, lobster, etc.
  • Medications: Penicillin, Sulfa antibiotics, Allopurinol, and many other drugs
  • Diagnostic materials: IV contrast material and dyes
  • Insect venom: including bees, wasps, ants
  • Natural rubber latex
  • Idiopathic/ Coital anaphylaxis

Diagnostic Criteria

It is diagnosed with one of the following criteria:[1]

♦ Acute onset of a reaction (mins to hours) involving skin, mucous membrane or both. Additionally including atleast one of the following:

  • Respiratory compromise or
  • Cardiovascular compromise/Evidence of end organ dysfunction.

♦ 2 or more of the following in a patient known to come in contact with an established allergen:

  • Skin/mucosal tissue involvement
  • Respiratory compromise
  • Reduced blood pressure
  • Gastrointestinal manifestations

♦ Reduced blood pressure after exposure to a known allergen.

Management

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the approach to Anaphylaxis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Characterize the symptoms & signs:
Skin, subcutaneous tissue and mucosa:
❑ Flushing, itching, urticaria, angioedema, rash, piloerection
❑ Periorbital itching, erythema and edema; conjunctival erythema, tearing

Respiratory:
❑ Nasal itching, congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing
❑ Throat itching and tightness, dysphonia, hoarseness, stridor, dry staccato cough
❑ Tachypnea, dyspnea,chest tightness, wheezing/bronchospasm
❑ Cyanosis
❑ Respiratory arrest


Gastrointenstinal:
❑ Pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea


Cardiovascular:
❑ Chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations
❑ Hypotension, feeling faint
❑ shock
❑ Cardiac arrest


Central nervous system:
❑ Anxiety, irritability
❑ Throbbing headache
❑ Altered vision and mental status
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consider alternative diagnosis:
❑ Acute asthma
❑ Anxiety/Panic attack
Syncope/vasovagal reaction
Foreign body aspiration
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remove patient from exposure/trigger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Do all 3 simultaneously
❑ Call for help
Inject aqueous epinephrine (adrenaline) IM in the mid-anterolateral aspect of the thigh, 0.01 mg/kg of a 1:1,000 (1 mg/mL) solution
Maximum dose 0.5 mg (adult) or 0.3 mg (child)
Record the time of the dose and repeat it in 5-10 minutes, if needed or
❑ Intravenous epinephrine: In patients with hypotension/cardiorespiratory arrest and those not responding
1:100,000 solution of epinephrine (0.1 mg [1 ml of 1:1000] in 100 ml saline) intravenously by infusion pump at an initial rate of 30-100 ml/hr (5-15 mg/min)
Titrate based on clinical response or epinephrine side effects
❑ Place patient on back/comfortable position; elevate legs[2]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yes
 
Patient has one of the following?
❑ Respiratory distress
❑ Received repeated doses of epinephrine
❑ Asthma/other respiratory disease
❑ Co-existing cardiovascular disease
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑ Give high flow supplemental oxygen (6-8 L/min)
 
No
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patient hypotensive despite epinephrine?
 
Yes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
No
 
❑ Establish IV access
❑ Give 1-2 litres of 0.9% saline rapidly, 5-10 ml/Kg in first 5-10 mins
❑ Chest compressions and ACLS
❑ Give vasopressors (dopamine) 400mg in 500ml of 5% dextrose at 2-20 mg/kg/min to maintain a target systolic BP > 90 mm Hg[3]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secondary therapy after epinephrine (evidence not clear)[4]

[5] [6] [7]
H1 antihistaminics:
Diphenhydramine IM or slow intravenous infusion - 25 to 50 mg in adults, and 1 mg/kg up to 50 mg in children


H2 antihistaminics:
Ranitidine - 1 mg/kg in adults, and 12.5 to 50 mg in children IV or IM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑ Observe the patient for biphasic anaphylaxis
Check following
❑ Blood pressure
❑ Cardiac status
❑ Respiratory status & oxygenation
Total period of observation depends on
a) clinical condition
b) patients access to emergency care setting from home
❑ Provide auto-injectable epinephrine and action plan for future events at discharge
 
 
 
 
 
 

The following guidelines are compliant with management guidelines prescribed by World Allergy Organization in 2013[8], and recent practise parameter updates released by American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology in 2010.[7]

Do's

  • Record the time of onset of the reaction & conditions immediately before the onset of symptoms to help to identify the possible trigger.
  • After a suspected anaphylactic reaction in take timed blood samples for mast cell tryptase testing as follows:
A sample as soon as possible after emergency treatment has started
A second sample ideally within 1-2 hours (but no later than 4 hours) from the onset of symptoms.
  • Histamine: Obtain blood sample within 15 minutes to 1 hour of onset of symptoms.
  • At the time of discharge, make referral to an allergy specialist.
  • Prescribe a bracelet or identifier, that indicates the patients allergy.

Dont's

  • Do not use glucocorticoids or anti-histaminics before epinephrine, they have not found to be superior. The role of glucocorticoids in acute anaphylaxis management is not clear, it may have a role in reducing incidence of biphasic anaphylaxis.
  • DO not let patients with anaphylaxis suddenly sit, stand, or be placed in the upright position.

References

  1. Sampson, HA.; Muñoz-Furlong, A.; Campbell, RL.; Adkinson, NF.; Bock, SA.; Branum, A.; Brown, SG.; Camargo, CA.; Cydulka, R. (2006). "Second symposium on the definition and management of anaphylaxis: summary report--Second National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network symposium". J Allergy Clin Immunol. 117 (2): 391–7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2005.12.1303. PMID 16461139. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. Gavalas, M.; Sadana, A.; Metcalf, S. (1998). "Guidelines for the management of anaphylaxis in the emergency department". J Accid Emerg Med. 15 (2): 96–8. PMID 9570048. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. "2005 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) of pediatric and neonatal patients: pediatric basic life support". Pediatrics. 117 (5): e989–1004. 2006. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0219. PMID 16651298. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. Mayumi, H.; Kimura, S.; Asano, M.; Shimokawa, T.; Au-Yong, TF.; Yayama, T. (1987). "Intravenous cimetidine as an effective treatment for systemic anaphylaxis and acute allergic skin reactions". Ann Allergy. 58 (6): 447–50. PMID 3592313. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. Lin, RY.; Curry, A.; Pesola, GR.; Knight, RJ.; Lee, HS.; Bakalchuk, L.; Tenenbaum, C.; Westfal, RE. (2000). "Improved outcomes in patients with acute allergic syndromes who are treated with combined H1 and H2 antagonists". Ann Emerg Med. 36 (5): 462–8. doi:10.1067/mem.2000.109445. PMID 11054200. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. Runge, JW.; Martinez, JC.; Caravati, EM.; Williamson, SG.; Hartsell, SC. (1992). "Histamine antagonists in the treatment of acute allergic reactions". Ann Emerg Med. 21 (3): 237–42. PMID 1536481. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lieberman, P.; Nicklas, RA.; Oppenheimer, J.; Kemp, SF.; Lang, DM.; Bernstein, DI.; Bernstein, JA.; Burks, AW.; Feldweg, AM. (2010). "The diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis practice parameter: 2010 update". J Allergy Clin Immunol. 126 (3): 477-80.e1-42. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2010.06.022. PMID 20692689. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. Simons, FE.; Ardusso, LR.; Dimov, V.; Ebisawa, M.; El-Gamal, YM.; Lockey, RF.; Sanchez-Borges, M.; Senna, GE.; Sheikh, A. (2013). "World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis Guidelines: 2013 update of the evidence base". Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 162 (3): 193–204. doi:10.1159/000354543. PMID 24008815.

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