Latex/Adhesive Allergy in Patients

[educationjules]

Any suggestions? We've had several patients recently with combined latex/ adhesive allergies. We've been using tegaderm to affix IV's and for post-op dressing. However, tegaderm was mistakenly used since it is non-latex ,along with benzoin .But tegaderm has some adhesive on it. Our patient had a severe reaction on her surgical site, but, not her IV site. It seems like all types of tape have some type of adhesive in them. What could we use on these types of patients?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't think you'll ever find any kind of actual tape without adhesive; that's kind of what makes it tape. We've had many patients who have stated they can't have certain kinds of tape. As in, paper tape is okay, but that really sticky stuff isn't. And sometimes I have to wonder if those are true tape allergies- it seems a common theme is tape that is a) left on for an extremely extended time- whose skin wouldn't be irritated after that or b) put on far too tightly- and whose skin isn't going to be affected by that?

There are some alternatives out there, but of the ones I know of, such as Coban or Coflex, they are only effective if able to wrap because it primarily sticks to itself, such as an extremity. I can't imagine trying to sit someone up after abdominal surgery to wrap them in Coban to hold a dressing in place.

Then there's surgical glue, but that can get pricey, and many of the surgeons I work with want a dressing over top anyway.

[RobtheORNurse]

Keep in mind that not all adhesives contain latex. Do some product research, also, most brands of benzoin have no latex, it is a common misconception that benzoin has latex in it. Read the label. We started testing every patient that claimed a latex allergy pre-op. Surprisingly (insert smirk) Most were NOT allergic to latex.

[Peggy]

I don not appreciate the smirk about a patient that wasn't allergic to latex. It is people like you who make it very hard to get people to realize just how serious my latex allergy is. To make this rant short, I literally stop breathing, (6 time to be axactl) when someone thought I was just joking about how serious my reactions were. The comments I get is nobody is that allergic. I just had surgery and I am having a serious allergic reaction around my site. I was in the ED 4 days after my procedure due to redness, blisters and smaller rash spreading. So don't ever state that they cant be allergic that bad because your oops may cause me or someone else's life, so in otherwards. wipe the smirk off your face. Try educating people, mostly staff first (nurses included) then educate the patients. It might just make their lives a little less worrisome about latex allergies. I know I am only 3%-5% in the world that is like this. Most doctors refer to me as "the real mccoy".

[heron, ASN, RN]

I’m dating myself, but a scutetus binder might be helpful with abdominal wounds. Might even be adaptable for other parts of the torso.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

8 hours ago, Peggy said:

I don not appreciate the smirk about a patient that wasn't allergic to latex. It is people like you who make it very hard to get people to realize just how serious my latex allergy is. To make this rant short, I literally stop breathing, (6 time to be axactl) when someone thought I was just joking about how serious my reactions were. The comments I get is nobody is that allergic. I just had surgery and I am having a serious allergic reaction around my site. I was in the ED 4 days after my procedure due to redness, blisters and smaller rash spreading. So don't ever state that they cant be allergic that bad because your oops may cause me or someone else's life, so in otherwards. wipe the smirk off your face. Try educating people, mostly staff first (nurses included) then educate the patients. It might just make their lives a little less worrisome about latex allergies. I know I am only 3%-5% in the world that is like this. Most doctors refer to me as "the real mccoy".

True latex allergies such as yours are not the most common that health care staff see. Many times, a nurse has asked a patient about their reaction to latex and are told "I don't like the smell of balloons" or "I get red when wet elastic is on my skin". It's patients like those that are the problem, not the nurses that need to investigate further. Even the fact that your doctors refer to you as "the real mccoy" should tell you it's more widespread than just staff- other patients are an issue here as well.

5 hours ago, heron said:

I’m dating myself, but a scutetus binder might be helpful with abdominal wounds. Might even be adaptable for other parts of the torso.

Is it bad I had to google that?

[heron, ASN, RN]

5 hours ago, heron said:

I’m dating myself, but a scutetus binder might be helpful with abdominal wounds. Might even be adaptable for other parts of the torso.

That’s “scultetus” binder. Sorry ‘bout that!

And, no, Rose_Queen - not bad at all. They were already falling out of use when I graduated nursing school in 1972. Spandex and Velcro took over that particular niche.

Maybe worth looking at them again, though. Isn’t the incidence of latex allergy on the rise?