This is the first report of successful treatment of life-threatening anaphylaxis secondary to chlorhexidine using veno-arterial-ECMO.
Chlorhexidine is commonly used, and sensitization to it may occur more often than recognized.
We present a flowchart for the diagnosis and management of severe anaphylaxis.
ECMO was lifesaving in a patient who developed severe bronchospasm and refractory anaphylactic shock secondary to chlorhexidine.