Anaphylaxis in the ER: More than just a puffy face

Abstract

In the emergency department nurses will encounter a variety of conditions requiring urgent and immediate interventions. One of these situations is anaphylaxis, which is defined as "a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death" (Kim & Fischer, 2011). For those nurses who are working in the emergency department, it is of utmost importance that they can quickly and thoroughly assess and identify when anaphylaxis is occurring in order to deliver effective and timely treatment for their patients. Anaphylaxis is a term that "is often reserved to describe immunological, especially IgE-mediated reactions. A second term, non-allergic anaphylaxis, describes clinically identical reactions that are not immunologically mediated. The clinical diagnosis and management are, however, identical" (Lockey, 2012). With this description in mind, it is imperative that nurses working in emergency departments are capable of properly recognizing anaphylaxis and preparing for immediate and appropriate intervention.