Usefulness of skin prick testing in the diagnosis of allergy in the perioperative period

Allergy in the perioperative period is an important clinical problem. Unfortunately due to the lack of guidelines for the recognition and diagnosis of allergy/hypersensitivity there are still no epidemiological data on this issue. Hypersensitivity to anesthetic drugs remains a substantial hazard for patients at increased risk because it is difficult to promptly recognize; consequently the proper treatment may be delayed. In addition the lack of specific molecular markers for confirmation of anaphylaxis impedes accurate diagnosis.