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Unexpected outcome (positive or negative) including adverse drug reactions
Near fatal intra-operative anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine—is it time to change practice?
  1. R A Khan1,
  2. T Kazi2,
  3. B O'Donohoe3
  1. 1Department of Anaesthetics, Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, UK
  2. 2Department of Anaesthetics, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
  3. 3Department of Anaesthetics, West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr R A Khan, rafi.khan{at}nhs.net

Summary

The authors report a case of a near fatal anaphylactic reaction to chlorhexidine. Increasingly adverse reactions are being reported with the use of chlorhexidine. Serious reactions are related to use on mucous membranes and acceptable alternatives are readily available. Therefore, the fundamental question that must be asked is: is it time to withdraw chlorhexidine preparations used for mucous membranes?

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.09.2009.2300

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None.

    • Patient consent Obtained.