Abstract

Anaphylactic reactions to agents administered intravenously usually occur within minutes. We present an unusual case of a delayed onset anaphylactic shock to intravenous cefotetan in a pregnant woman who underwent an epidural cesarean section. She sustained hypotension, tachycardia, bronchospasm, and rash 90 min after administering intravenous cefotetan. The possibilities of high epidural blocks or amnionic fluid embolisms were excluded by the height of sensory blocks or different presenting symptoms and signs, respectively. Allergic skin tests for exposed materials were performed 6 weeks after discharge and no immediate reactions occurred. However, delayed systemic allergic reactions, such as urticaria, rash, and edema on her face, neck, back, and abdomen, occurred 3 h after skin test to cefotetan.

• Keywords: anaphylaxis;cefotetan;skin test