Management

  • Give high-dose oxygen via a mask, aiming for an oxygen saturation >94%
  • Give 0.01 mg/kg adrenaline up to 0.5 mg (0.5 mL of 1:1000 solution) IM into the upper lateral thigh
  • Attach patient to pulse oximetry and ECG monitoring, obtain large IV access
  • If no response, treat as critical anaphylaxis:
    • Ensure two large-bore IV lines
    • Repeat the dose of adrenaline 0.01 mg/kg up to 0.5 mg every 3-5 minutes
    • Alternatively place adrenaline 1mg (1mL of 1:1000) in 100mL of normal saline and administer IV at 60-120 mL/h (10-20 microgram/min) titrated to response
      • Give faster in cardiac arrest
    • Must be ECG monitor
    • Hypotension
      • Lay the patient supine and elevate the legs
      • Give adrenaline as above
      • Give normal saline bolus 20 mL/kg IV under pressure, repeat twice more as necessary
      • Give glucagon 1 mg IV repeated every 5 minutes for patients on a beta-blocker who are resistant to the above treatment
        • Beta blockers blunt the affect of adrenaline
        • Glucagon can also cause positive ionotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart and improves vasodilation; also stabilises mast cells
      • Give atropine 0.6 mg IV boluses if bradycardia unresponsive to adrenaline
    • Cardiac arrest
      • Give adrenaline 1 mg IV dose and repeat; can use larger doses of adrenaline 3-5 mg IV
      • Deliver rapid boluses up to 60 mL/kg of normal saline
    • Adjunctive agents
      • Laryngeal oedema
        • Give 1:1000 adrenaline 5 mg (5 mL) nebulised with oxygen
        • Call anaesthetist and prepare for surgical airway
        • Give hydrocortisone 200 mg IV or prednisone 50 mg PO
        • Give nebulised salbutamol 5 mg and repeat up to continuously as necessary
      • H1 and or H2 antihistamines following recovery from anaphylaxis
        • Cetirizine 10 mg PO or fexofenadine 180 mg plus rantidine 150 mg following recovery from the anaphylaxis