Clinical and Etiological Features of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions among Patients of the Surgical Department: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative drug allergy remains a major issue in surgical practice but has not been sufficiently studied. METHODS: In our pilot study of 569 patients, 44 (7.7%; mean age 52.5 years, 59.1% female) met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) were reported in 34 patients (5.98%) and occurred during hospitalization in 13 patients (2.3%), most often with reactions to antibiotics, NSAIDs, and local anesthetics. Notably, 26.5% of patients with prior reactions could not name the specific drugs, and 23.1% of those with hospital reactions recalled past reactions only after experiencing a new reaction, highlighting inaccuracies in admission records. CONCLUSION: To reduce complications, careful history-taking, avoidance of polypharmacy, consideration of cross-reactivity, and drug testing in high-risk patients are essential. In emergencies, reliance on history and alternative drugs is necessary. This pilot study underscores the need for multicenter research and a national electronic registry to improve diagnosis, prevention, and management of DHRs in surgical practice.