Dilemmas in Anesthetic Management of a Patient with History of Anaphylaxis to Vecuronium

Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is a life-threatening situation that occurs uncommonly. A 60-year-old woman with a history of anaphylaxis during previous anesthesia is scheduled to undergo elective open cholecystectomy. Her skin tests revealed sensitivity to vecuronium and nonsensitivity to injections of midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol. Due to high incidence of cross sensitivity among neuromuscular drugs, it was thought best to avoid general anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was planned for the patient. The patient refused to give consent for spinal anesthesia, and she had to be taken up for surgery under general anesthesia. The only alternate neuromuscular blocking drug available to us was atracurium, which was tested for sensitivity by intradermal test. Atracurium was found to be not sensitive on intradermal test. We report here the dilemma and the challenges faced during management of general anesthesia in a patient with history of anaphylaxis to vecuronium.